That transition from mom's (or dad's) loving arms to the bus, that challenging moment of truth as they head off to camp, is what makes the experience so seminal for your son or daughter.

In the absence of siblings, it is easy for only children to depend on their parents for companionship.

Never in a million years would I have sent him on his first solo walk in New York down to Avenue A and back, but as it turned out, he handled it.

If I decided to take a more introspective look at our "DIY Summer," I would have to admit that I can be an impediment to our children's self-sufficiency. It's hard for me to accept "their" way of doing things. After all, no one can make "hospital corners" like I can or load the dishwasher just so.

As my babies have grown, I have grown increasingly sentimental for those baby days when they needed me so urgently; when I was the answer to their questions, their longings, their needs.

While independence is a part of happiness, so is connectedness. Past generations may have gone too far, making oh-so-independent Americans less connected to friends and family.