Staking
Staking: "The practice of driving a stake into the ground next to, and as support for, a plant. When attaching the plant to the stake, be sure that it is tied loosely so it doesn't strangle the stem. When staking a potted plant, the stake should be set into the planter before the plant is added."
It is fairly easy to draw comparisons between "staking" a plant and "staking" a child. Of course parents want the very best for their child. And when that child is brought into the world, it is natural that a parent wants to protect and support that child in every way.
When the child is small, there is not much other way than "staking" the child and parent together to help that helpless infant grow safely and securely. And there is no doubt that the child who is left without the support of the parent is in grave danger.
However, as the child and his roots grow, it is important to be sure the tie to the stake is gradually loosened. This allows for the necessary support for the plant (child) to grow without collapsing and yet allows the roots and stem not to be strangled. It is fairly obvious when this is happening to a child, as you can see him/her suffering from a strangulation of sorts, and the "withering" of his/her roots and stem.
It is key here that before you add the plant into the pot to be staked, the stake should be set first. This could be analogous to the parent having his/her life in order, as much as possible, before beginning the gardening of his/her own child. Orderly lives seem to make for easier child rearing.
Of course every parent is expected to give his/her child all the support and guidance that s/he is able to give. The hardest part in parenting seems to be knowing just when and how much to loosen that connection to the stake. This is a gradual process, and may prove to be more difficult for the parent than the child. But every parent knows that this then is the result that s/he is hoping to achieve in the end-a "plant" that can withstand the elements on its own.
