Yesterday I sent my two boys off into the world.
They were out playing with friends, I was attempting to shower and make my hair frizz free. The phone rang - it was Son No. 1. He was at a neighbour’s house and wanted to know if he and Son No. 2 could go bike riding with a group of friends to a local pond then to the Mac’s store.
I hesitated only a moment then said no. The Mac’s store was across a busy intersection and while Son No. 1 was capable, I felt Son No. 2 was still too young to make this trek.
Son No.1 hung up in a huff.
Thirty seconds later the phone rang again, this time it was Son No. 2. “He meant just biking to the pond mom.”
I hesitated again.
The kids going ranged in age from almost 7 to 10. There was no reason for me to say no and yet I was torn.
I know times have changed but I also know I have the best childhood memories of roaming the neighbourhood with my friends, hours spent biking, exploring and going to the park on our own. My boys have many freedoms but this biking thing?
I wasn’t ready.
I went against my instinct to keep them close and said yes anyway.
They came home and filled water bottles to go on their adventure and then they were off.
I didn’t relax until they got back, images of one of them slipping into the pond and drowning or veering off the sidewalk and getting hit by a car.
But, of course, they did come back….hot, sweaty and bubbling with excitement, talking over each other to tell me what they did.
I listened as they told me about the new bridge and how they played ball at the park, wondering how they couldn’t sense my relief they were home safe.
I had put out on twitter that I had sent the boys for their first bike ride without an adult present. @threesixtyfg wrote back “Good for you - big step!”
And it was.
For them too.
Printer-friendly version