I love that people are so completely bonkers and brave that they want to do crazy adventurous things. I have trouble up a ladder so I don't think that particular stunt is for me tho.
I don't have the adrenaline junkie gene. I have never paraglided. I have never even been on a banana boat. I can't even bear to watch my kids on climbing frames.
When my elder boy was a few years younger we came to a mutual decision that we wouldn't go to the park together for a bit. He is a child, he needed to climb, explore and develop and improve his motor skills. I am a mum, a fairly chilled out one in most respects, but not in the park it turns out. A constant chorus of :-
'Not too high/fast now'
'careful. CAREFUL!'
'Hold Mummy's hand'.
..is not cool when you are 5 and a big boy. I can go with him again now because he is much bigger and I don't worry so much.
It's silly because I know they need to play and learn this way, and play parks wouldn't exist if history was littered with multiple serious injuries- especially with our recent litigation culture. (our park once got closed for 3 months because a child trapped their finger in the gate- and their parents sued and as a result denied all the other kids access while it was being resolved-ridiculous-but that is a rant for another time!)
Syd is heading for the age where he wants to climb and run. At the moment he is only 14 months so it is reasonable for me to be carrying, holding, and restricting, but as he gets older I really want to be able to get my nerves into proportion so I can help him enjoy exploring 'safe' danger. Parks and similar have lots to offer in development terms. It is good for them to see you trust them (even if you are still within catching distance). It is good for their physical skills, and it is good for their independence. The odd minor bump along the way is soon forgotten, by them if not by you!
I guess we all have areas of parenting we need to work on, and this is mine, I think I will just have to get used to that heart in your mouth feeling and let them get on with it!!
I went on the big wheel near ours a week ago. I say 'big' but its aimed at toddlers. Toddler thought it was Best Thing Ever and laughed constantly, I nearly threw up.... I sympathise with your problem!
ReplyDeleteBless you, I feel your pain! My kids have had their fair share of accidents, but I reserve my irrational fear for anything to do with travelling. There's so much that could go wrong...
ReplyDeleteAs for that man jumping from 24 miles up, makes me shudder to even think about it!
I've visualised my kids' funeral wreaths on many occasions. I've realised that the more freedom they're allowed to climb high trees and chops hard vegetables the safer the experience will make them, but I know that when they're 42 I'll still be imploring them to be careful.
ReplyDeleteI am so conflicted on this. I would LOVE for my son to turn out to be a fearless chap who can engage in lots of Fun Stuff without that feeling at the pit of his stomach urging him not to.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I'd quite like him to not end up splattered at the bottom of a ladder because he has scant regard for safety.
The Felix skydive made me feel slightly ill just watching it. Absolutely brilliant, if quite insane.
I hope my kids will have a sense of reason and not jump head first into things like their dad used to do before he had kids.
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