My twins planned this overnight camping trip with seven friends of theirs. They call themselves the “Bros.”
I love how they did this all on their own.
Only trouble is they are all 17-years-old and and you have to be 18 to reserve a camping spot. So, the “Bros” asked my husband and me if we wanted to go camping. I guess we are good for something.
We had company here from out of town that I need to see on that weekend so I was unable to go but my husband Chris rearranged his schedule so he could go.
It was great fun to hear the stories of their 24 hours away. The “bro” cutoff jean shorts, the white t-shirts, the campfire, the s’mores, the jumping off a ledge into the sand, the sleeping all seven in a great big tent.
They showed me photos as did my husband. And, there was one video that I got to see, a video that gave me pause.
It was a slow-motion video of a tire that they set on fire and let roll down this sand dune hill.
As I watched the kids chasing the flaming tire rolling down the hill and as I listened to the laughing and commenting and hilarity, I said to my husband, “It looks like they are having a lot of fun and it’s great to see this video and their reaction and their laughing.
“But isn’t it dangerous?” I hesitated.
My husband said, “Yeah, it was.
“Boys want danger.”
All kids need it a little bit, not just boys of course. So much of growing up for kids in this country’s suburbia is filled with pre-planned and perfectly arranged and organized “play-dates” and youth sports and parents in control. Yet, as kids get older, they need to get out of the playpens of suburban life and experience life outside the borders, with a dash of danger. My husband said, “The trick is to give the allusion of great danger and unusual adventure, yet have a reasonable risk level.”
words, “the allusion of great danger.”)I have framed art card in my office that says:
“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”
Let the kids live on a edge a bit. (Curious to see the video? Click Here: burning tire)
[Note this is day two in my series “A thought a day on parenting for 31 days”
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