It’s transition week at the local secondary school here in Campbeltown, when anxious 11 and 12 year olds toddle off to the Big Building on the Hill for the first time. A very short while ago we watched our tenth child do just that.

This is the last time (as far as you can ever know anything for sure) that we’ll have that experience. But for a whole heap of reasons I was more nervous on behalf of our foster son Ryan than I have ever felt.

Experience is useful, but it doesn’t automatically mean that everything becomes easier. Sometimes knowing more makes the experience more difficult.

But knowing more also usually means that our involvement is more important. Certainly not something to be treated lightly or to hide from.

Experience brings more awareness of the problems and therefore more responsibilities.

It’s another of life’s little conundrums.