Trust

My oldest on the phone the other night: "Mom, do you have any plans for Memorial Day? Kayleigh and I were talking about taking the little ones to the beach."

Me, not wanting to discourage or interfere with those moments I wrote about recently: "Well, I can't think of anything. (pause)  I guess that's okay. (pause) Are you sure you want to take the little girls with you? (pause) I mean, you'll have to watch them closely. (pause) Er...very closely."

Oldest son (who will soon turn the same age I was when I had him and who has more experience with the younger set than I did when I had him): "Mom, don't you trust me?"

Yes, honey, I trust you.

I don't trust:

• the merciless sun
• the jellyfish
• any contaminated needles in the sand
• drunk drivers speeding on the road and peeling out in the sand
• broken bottles on the beach bottom
• swift currents
• undercurrents
• sharks
• the alligator found at the area beach last week
• the leftover evidence of hurricanes from three years ago
• the fact that there are still no stores or camps (ie: bathrooms for good hygiene) in that area

But I do trust my children enough to give them the freedom to live life to its fullest and not be afraid to live it.

I also knew, as I hung up the phone, that these things would be there whether he and his sister took them to the beach or their father and I took them.  I also knew the older two could handle these situations as well, if not better, than I could.

So, because I trust my older children, I let them take their younger siblings (and cousin) to the beach on Memorial Day. 

And, yes, they had fun.

And, no, they did not come across any jellyfish or alligators or cut their feet on broken glass or needles.

And, yes, they got sunburns.

And, yes, they are all sleeping happily, peacefully, exhaustedly in their beds tonight.

It was a good day...a day to remember the men who fought for our freedom and a day to allow my children to experience its sweetness.

Comments

[Deb]

Watching you graciously handle growing up is quite an encouragement to me. Thanks for your transparency.