It has taken a lot of boundary pushing on my part for me to learn to let my boys “be boys.” As I’ve said previously, I was a timid, quiet child myself and my boys are anything but…they are loud, boisterous, adventurous. Its a truly wonderful thing but at times I feel so out of my element.
This last time my husband was deployed I really had to push myself to do more “boy things” with the children since he wasn’t here to do it. I had to play T-rex in the yard, build blanket tents, get in the dirt and dig. Did I love it? Honestly, no, I didn’t. But I did love being with them and experienceing something with them that brought them joy.
When Jack, my oldest, was a toddler I was literally a helicopter parent, hovering over him afraid of every scrape, bruise, and bump life was going to give him. Five years later with three boys in the family I’ve learned quickly that I can’t, nor should I, prevent every injury and failure life is going to present. How else will they learn if I don’t let them stumble?
So now when I see them climbing up high to jump down I fight the urge to yell “stop” with every ounce of my being. I remind myself that they will never find their own limits if I don’t let them jump.
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