Dennis says this is me.I have many memories doing something similar.
Not sure how many times my sons were aware of it.
When Brock went to his first drive in movie with friends, I asked his Dad to secretly follow him there and park near him. Not that we didn't trust Brock. That was not the reason. We just wanted to make sure no one bothered him.
Or the time Tyler wanted so much to ride the school bus home. Can't remember how old he was but I think it was at least 3rd grade or older, when I finally let him. I was so nervous that in following the bus I actually ran a stop sign. When the cop stopped me I cried and said I was sorry,"but this was my son's very first time going home on the school bus and I was trying to follow him." He felt sorry for me, and put his ticket book away and just said, "Well don't do that again."
Or Logan's first party he went to where there were girls present. To a house I did not know the family. I sat out in my car out front. I gave him about 30 minutes and then I knocked on the door and said it was time to go home.
Or the cast parties of McKay's that I would attend. I was usually the only parent there.
Not exactly my proud moments as a parent.
I guess we just all do the best we can at the time.
Amazingly my boys all grew up to be independent confident adults.
If I had to do it all over again, would I not be so protective?
Not unless I was given a different heart.
I guess they survived me, and I survived raising them.
11 comments:
I think this could be a lot of us moms, and not just when our children are small. Some times it is just hard for us to let go but I will say that you seem to have four very independent sons so maybe they didn't know all of these experiences of yours when they were growing up :-)
ha ha ha! This makes me laugh SO hard because just an hour ago I was telling my husband how we needed to still watch over Jake closely, but just in a way he does not know it!
That's how this mothering stuff is...lots of underground detective work. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who did that.
I love these stories! And they bring back so many similar memories of my own!
And for some reason it was especially hardest for me to let go of the oldest and then the youngest! I was over-protective with all of them, but much more so with the first and the last. Poor kids!
I can safely say that this sort of behavior from my own mother and father has really defined me as a parent. Nothing brings me greater joy than the smile on my kids' faces as I let them run naked in the streets.
I always considered myself to be overprotective until I read this post. Now I feel positively permissive! I doubt I'll be able to sell my kids on that idea though; they still think I'm the biggest worrier on the block. ("Nothing bad's gonna happen, Mom!")
Personally, I think the security of knowing our parents will always be concerned and ready to step in when needed is what produces confident, independent adults!
Thank you Mary. You have helped ease some of my leftover guilt.
Oh, and I wish I could remember how many time my boys said that very same sentence to me: "Nothing bad's gonna happen, Mom."
Brock, you are so funny!!
This was so dang humorous! We are so different but if you look at how our boys decided to lead their lives.
I would NEVER 2nd guess parenting. You did an AWESOME job. Your boys are AWESOME. You never need to look back. Your family is so incredibly wonderful.
There is humor in looking back, but never any regrets, right?
Jill, my kids are still younger but I would have to say I'm the same way. I like to stay at birthday parties and things if I have time. I don't let my son walk five houses down to his friends by himself. I hope my sons turn out as wonderful as yours, I think you did a great job. I read Brock's comment about how he lets his kids run naked in the street, is he just joking? When I read that a funny thought came to mind, we had just got done swimming and Donald was just in a diaper, I was walking our friends out that came over and Donald ran outside naked. He then ran around the grass in the dirt playing with the kids naked. I was so embaressed especially when the neighbor walked by walking his dogs and Donald ran up to him talking to him and petting his dogs naked!!! Where was my over protectiveness at that moment?
Of course we let our kids run naked through the streets... but don't worry we follow behind them in the car... a safe distance so they don't know we are there!
Erin
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