When her daughter, Lisa, graduated high school and left for college, Newfoundland leader Debbie Samson created a beautiful farewell gift: a cross-stitched rendition of the poem "A Final Gift: Letting Go." This poem is featured in the Active Parenting of Teens program and is written by Dr. Popkin.

Lisa with her mother's gift

A FINAL GIFT: LETTING GO
(to a teen leaving home)

Boats in the harbor are safe near shore
Far from the unknown sea,
But just as boats were made for more,
It's the same with you and me.

Those who would anchor their teen with a stone
In hopes of preventing a wreck,
Find that their fears are never undone
Andthe stone ends up weighting both necks.

So I give to you a port called home
Where your ship was built so strong,
And if you need to harbor here,
You know that you belong.

And I give to you the maps you'll need
That you may set the course
For places that I'll never see,
So go without remorse.

Tilting your sails into the wind
With hope, and vision and courage--
I kiss you once, then touch your chin
And wish you bon voyage!

-Michael H. Popkin

(Also available: prints of the watercolor poster.)