That day I learned a valuable lesson about trust. Of course, my daughter is growing up, discovering friendship, love, and companionship. But she’s doing it at her own pace, with an innocence and sincerity that are disarming.

What if our role as parents, ultimately, is also to accept that we can’t control everything? To let them live their experiences, while remaining a reassuring presence, ready to listen without judgment.

Since then, I always knock before entering her room. Not because I’m afraid of being discovered, but because I want to show her that I respect her. And, in a way, that I trust her.

Growing up also means learning to trust. Our children often grow up faster than we realize. And we, as parents, walk a tightrope: between the fear of seeing them grow up too fast and the desire to always protect them.