What does the kite symbolize in The Kite Runner?

I believe it symbolized the coming of age from childhood
to young adulthood. The flight of the kite was the freedom of childhood to be free,
fettered only by the parent of the child. When the kites fought, the symbolism of
success and failure became evident. Without skills and strategy, a kite flyer was doomed
to be eliminated. Success came with practice and determination. The pain of the glass
string cutting the flyer's hands was the experience of set backs that had to be
overlooked to achieve a goal. Amir's success did not achieve exactly what he wanted,
however. It did form a closer bond between him and his father. But, somehow that bond
seemed artificial. His fateful lack of action to save his friend would ruin his feeling
of success and mar his emotional state for years. Even the trophy of capturing the kite
that was downed would pall in its cost to both boys and their
families.