I felt every bit of what you wrote. I sometimes find myself worrying about my children, maybe even sheltering them more than I should, thinking it would keep them safe. Your reflections on Aino, Juho, and Onni reminded me how fragile yet important these years are, and how much our guidance matters while still letting them find their own way.

On a different note, this writing reminds me how every young heart carries both risk and promise. Perhaps that is the beauty of these years: they are as fragile as glass and yet shine with the light of becoming...