Letting go

My daughter joined Sparks awhile back and the other night they had palnned a sleepover. She has slept over at my parents house before and at my sisters place , and a few times at her dads. But this time was different. It was hard to let go of all my fears of something happening and me not being there to help her. What if she woke up in pain and needed her heating pad or tylenol, what if she could not sleep .... It took me awhile to leave her , after dropping her off that night .... I stayed til I made sure her leaders knew I was just a phone call away , that I would come back to get her anytime. I made sure they knew to make her take a break if they were running around , not wanting her to have too much pain in the night. I came home to stay close to the phone incase they called, not sleeping much wondering how she is making out. When your child has something wrong with them it is that much harder to let go I think , the fear of something happening and th e people around her not knowing how to help. I was told once that I was an over protective mother and to just let go .... I am trying very hard to do that ...what is a good balance of protecting and letting go ? There is no parent manual that comes along with our children when they are born, you have advice from others , parenets, inlaws , care givers , friends and complete strangers .... how do you let go of the one thing that means the world to you ?  I am working on it knowing that she is getting older and wants some growing room but I have to admit  I am horrible at it . I really do hope that  I am not going to be one of those parents that  try and protect their children from everything and not let them learn from their own mistakes. Because I know from experience I have learned more from ym own mistakes then I have from others. what is that saying ..if you love someone let them go .... easier said then done but  I am working on it ...maybe when she is 40 I will get there ...lol or maybe not !!!!