Saw an older brother (around poly age) holding a younger brother's (around primary sch) hand while walking in the carpark.

Saw a mother holding a toddler's hand while walking towards the pedestrian crossing.

In every relationship, there'll be a stronger party and a more dependent party, someone who protects and someone who is protected. The one who is more experienced guides the one who is still exploring and learning. Arguably it's pretty much decided by social norms and common-sense. You have the parent taking care of the child, the guy (stereotypically) taking care of the girl.

And then the golden question comes: (quoting my prof in one of her lectures, aptly albeit out of context) how much can a person know before he loses his innocence?

The parent takes utmost effort to avoid exposing his child to danger. When the child is very much still dependent, his universe is close. It's defined and limited by the parent - what is right is determined by what the parent says. But growing up is inevitable and unpreventable. The child starts to realise that the world is a much bigger place than is reflected by the parent, starts exploring and experimenting with things that come his way. And one day, he finally realises that everything that was previously taught to him (what was right and what was wrong), is but the sole opinion of his parents. That said, he does not quite throw his parents out of his life but instead, recognises that the values imparted by the parents have become deep-seated in his life. Whether or not the values change is a decision he must then make as life throws alternative ideas at him. Things no longer appear as black or white. In fact, most appear to be a shade of grey.

For example, possibly

his parents told him that smoking and drinking are bad, but now he has to consider whether that statement is an absolute, or it reflects more of his parents' own judgment;

his parents told him that tatoos and piercings are tell-tale signs of the underworld, but now he has to consider whether that proposition is qualified, or it remains a stigma of the older generation;

his parents told him that he has to get a good degree because that is the only way to succeed in life, but now he has to consider whether that path is the only path, or it is merely an opinion;

his parents told him that Man is to get married, have kids, and start a family, but now he has to consider whether that is indisputable, or it expresses the expectations and hopes of a parent;

his parents told him that a man is to be with a woman, but now he has to consider whether that is taken for granted, or it reflects their conservative positions;

his parents told him that the most important thing in life is to be happy, but now he has to consider whether that is a goal in life he wants to adopt as his own.

And at some point in time, when one has to learn to let go, that's the most difficult part. To recognise that the one you have been protecting for years has finally grown up and should be trusted to make his own decision, and be given a free(er) hand in charting the course of his own life.

To that, I always wonder if I've truly let go of my sister. Then again, someone once told me, brothers will never fully let their younger sisters fly. There's always this highly-disguised line by which the brother will still hold on to the sister. Just in case.

(I realise I rambled but I'm amazed at what my brain cells are able to produce despite being overworked. I really didnt know where I would end up when I started writing.)