The other day, my 12 year old said to me, “Mom, can you take Karver and me to the river? We want to float our rafts to the island at Cedaroak boat ramp.”
I had been gone that day for a while and I was tired and needed to rest, but I yearn for time with my son and I was excited for his oh-so-grown-up-ish out of the box idea, so I said yes, as long as it was okay with his friend’s dad.
Karver texted his dad Darren and asked if he was okay with this idea.
Darren texted me back, thanking me for taking the boys. He also added:
“I tried to get them to fill up a backpack with water balloons and go to their usual spot, the local park near by whereby, but they would not have it.”
I know, I texted back, wild, huh?
That’s why I said yes, that’s why I took them, despite being tired and needing to rest.
As a parent, I believe it is important to allow our children, as they get older, to stretch the borders of their lives, their worlds, slowly, little by little, to have their own adventures, outdoors, beyond the local manicured parks. And, to allow them to come up with the ideas of what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go.
A bit of independence and adventure and challenge.
Indeed. It was neat to see the boys find our life jackets and floats and paddles and pump to pump up the floats; they got their towels and their snacks and their sunscreen.
“Mom, we are ready to go,” Gus says to me.
I asked if he had their lifejackets included in all of the items, and he answered affirmatively.
I finished packing my own bag, with a towel and a book and my journal and my sunglasses.
I had different plans for the Cedaroak Boat Ramp area. The horizontal sandy beach was calling me.
But first, watching the boys paddle to the Cedaroak Island. The way they felt so good about being able to plan this little trip, the determination on their faces as they hit the water on their floats and the delight once they made it.
Let them explore, beyond the borders.
[Past in the Thoughts on Parenting, 31 Days posts: Day 3: Give them experiences not material goods}
Hi Ashley- Indeed-that is a satisfaction, planning and executing their own ideas of adventure, and then experiencing the adventure itself. Thanks so much friend for your kind words. The series has been super fun to write. Only “problem”? I have way more than one thought a day on parenting- thanks for reading Ash-
So good. Our kids do need adventure and the satisfaction of planning and executing their own visions! Loving your series, friend.