Monday, June 23, 2008

Ebb and Flow

It occurs to me that the roles that Doug and I have currently taken on in parenting will most likely reverse in less than 9 years.

In our daily lives, my husband is often encouraging me to let the girls be a little more adventurous, physically. I tend to hover and not want them to say, jump off the roof or you know, sky dive. Maybe I am exaggerating, but that is what it feels like when my little girls want to skateboard without holding my hand or jump into the pool without a parent anywhere near or jump as high as they can on the trampoline.

I think it is a good thing that Doug pushes me to look the other way, leave the room, or deal with it. The girls need to explore and they need to fall once in a while.

But in 9 years, when Aubrey wants to go to a party with boys, or to the movies with a group of friends, or is texting a boy, I predict over protective Daddy will enter the picture and the roles will reverse. I will encourage her to go have fun (and to give me a detailed itinerary and all relevant phone numbers) and her daddy will sit at home cleaning his imaginary gun.

What do you see in your life that has you changing roles as life goes by?

I have lots of posts started that I hope to get to this week:
Mean Girls
Crunchy Green Beans
Fireflies

8 comments:

Jessica said...

I think you'll be lucky if it's only an imaginary gun!!

Amy said...

I can't wait to hear about your firefly stories...how funny...great minds must think alike!!

I think my hubby will be the same way with our little one...very protective...I love the image of him polishing his imaginary gun...funny!!

Don Mills Diva said...

I think I'm going to have to really be telling my husband to loosen up in the future when my son is decding on a profession. Hubby - the former musician - really seems to think he can guide him into something steady and business-oriented...I say good luck!

Rollingthunder said...

They will be wearing GPS anklets by 13, along with mood sensing compatibility, and automatic mace. No worries!

Anonymous said...

I never got to have the years of experience you guys had with kids. I got married and there was a 4 and 9 year old. I had the crash course. My step-daughter is 15 now and dating. I really thought I would be more harsh on who she could and couldn't date. It doesn't work that way. THEY pick and we have to steer them in the direction of a better decision or get them to think about what they are doing.

I'm all for letting them fail. Let them learn. Hovering makes wussies. Trust me, I see a campus full of them at my job. Kids whose parents call and wake them up EVERY MORNING!

Best thing a kid can learn is failure. It hurts as a parent, but the alternative is a kid who can do NOTHING for themselves.

Knot

Sarcasta-Mom said...

I see something very similar happening in our house too :)

Unknown said...

I think that we will be similar too but who knows....(men, you just can't figure them out - rolling my eyes and smirking!)

InTheFastLane said...

I soooo hear you! Violet is trying to get her dad to let her go to the movies with a boy. Humm...I don't know if this is going to work.