It felt strange. Leaving behind my parents, to travel to some other place on my own.

It felt liberating. As if I had grown up by a couple of years suddenly.

It felt exhilarating. In anticipation of what I was going to encounter.

I remember the first time I went on a trip on my own, I was in high school by then. I went to Delhi, along with my cousins, to spend time there.

It was a great learning experience. Away from my parents, doing everything on my own, having fun but being responsible at the same time. I still cherish that trip.

But it wasn’t just the fun I had there. It also opened my eyes to the world around me, in a way earlier trips didn’t.

Not because I wasn’t surrounded by other responsible adults. My cousins were there. But without my parents, my senses were operating on a higher level.

I saw things that I had not seen before – how people behaved, how the world operated, how I was fitting in (or was not)!

As I thought about that trip randomly this weekend, I was quickly reminded that our daughter had her first trip without us when she was still in primary school.

A full week away from us, among her classmates, on a learning journey. It was an anxious few days for us. And for her as well, I guess.

But more than anything else, it was a great experience for her. She learnt so much in those few days. As a parent, I could observe the change I saw in her post that.

I have always been a believer that kids learn more when they step away from home, something I propose to everyone in the family.

So, I am happy that our daughter got her first experience when she was much younger. And yet, as a parent it wasn’t easy to see her go alone.

I guess there’s a first time as a parent too…