"The line between triumph and tragedy is razor-thin."
As a fellow gen-xer, I'm here to support this. My poor mother couldn't have helicoptered me if she tried, and she DID make a valiant effort. I was in and out of ERs and urgent care facilities growing up. As a working mother, she was powerless to my latchkey life.
This is a great story and true lessons. I do believe no one has the intention to make bad decisions (at the time they are making said decisions)….but also, how have I never heard this story!!!
I love this so much. This is how my husband and I raised our 3 kids. Many times, things could have gone horribly wrong (hippo encounter in Botswana, near impaling in the Amazon, etc). Thankfully they didn’t, and we have amazing memories to share. Kudos to you.
This brought tears to my eyes because it really does highlight how little control we have, although man do we beat ourselves up in making the choices sometimes. I often reflect on how silly I am to want to live in a place that has deadly snakes, and mosquitoes carrying awful diseases. And then I remember how dangerous it is to just drive my kid across town in a car. The latter being much more likely. And yet we go through life thinking we can control so much...we analyze the risks and sketch out the pros and cons, trying to do our best critical thinking to come to the most right decision....when really, it might just not matter at all. So thank you for the gift of this perspective.
💯 yes and yet what I’ve encountered and I’m sure you do as well is that if your kid got hurt living in America in a car accident or a gun incident no one would berate you for being a neglectful parent but take them into a jungle and well “what are we thinking” - obviously we’re of the Ilk to prefer the later variety of risk to the former - I hope our kids appreciate the adventure!
Love this Maureen. I was just telling my niece an experience we had where I thought we might be arrested with our grandchildren in China all because we didn't think to book a hotel room before we left Hong Kong. I can laugh now but....
We still laugh about it. I remember my son saying Mom maybe we should just tell truth & I said I don't know if that is a good idea. Lol. Eventually we talked our way out of immigration with a severe warning that we need to be out of the country in 24 hours or else jail time. 😬
"The line between triumph and tragedy is razor-thin."
As a fellow gen-xer, I'm here to support this. My poor mother couldn't have helicoptered me if she tried, and she DID make a valiant effort. I was in and out of ERs and urgent care facilities growing up. As a working mother, she was powerless to my latchkey life.
This share also makes me think of the NYC mom who was accused of child abuse by the authorities and the internet because she purposefully had her nine-year-old find his way home on the subway. (https://www.today.com/news/mom-lets-9-year-old-take-subway-home-alone-1c9014656)
Kids lose so much from over supervision - it was one of the many joys of Portugal - it was like a throwback to the 80’s with free range kids.
“Free range kids” is my favorite expression of the week so far.
Your kids are lucky -- on multiple levels. And we can play it as safe as we can figure, and life will still find a way to upend us.
So true Jan!
This is a great story and true lessons. I do believe no one has the intention to make bad decisions (at the time they are making said decisions)….but also, how have I never heard this story!!!
What lucky kids! And I couldn’t agree with your conclusion more. Life is quite a bit like riding those rafts through rapids.
Thanks Holly!
I love this so much. This is how my husband and I raised our 3 kids. Many times, things could have gone horribly wrong (hippo encounter in Botswana, near impaling in the Amazon, etc). Thankfully they didn’t, and we have amazing memories to share. Kudos to you.
Lucky kids!
This brought tears to my eyes because it really does highlight how little control we have, although man do we beat ourselves up in making the choices sometimes. I often reflect on how silly I am to want to live in a place that has deadly snakes, and mosquitoes carrying awful diseases. And then I remember how dangerous it is to just drive my kid across town in a car. The latter being much more likely. And yet we go through life thinking we can control so much...we analyze the risks and sketch out the pros and cons, trying to do our best critical thinking to come to the most right decision....when really, it might just not matter at all. So thank you for the gift of this perspective.
💯 yes and yet what I’ve encountered and I’m sure you do as well is that if your kid got hurt living in America in a car accident or a gun incident no one would berate you for being a neglectful parent but take them into a jungle and well “what are we thinking” - obviously we’re of the Ilk to prefer the later variety of risk to the former - I hope our kids appreciate the adventure!
Love this Maureen. I was just telling my niece an experience we had where I thought we might be arrested with our grandchildren in China all because we didn't think to book a hotel room before we left Hong Kong. I can laugh now but....
Right?!? It makes a great story after the fact when everyone is home safe and sound. During it... egads.
We still laugh about it. I remember my son saying Mom maybe we should just tell truth & I said I don't know if that is a good idea. Lol. Eventually we talked our way out of immigration with a severe warning that we need to be out of the country in 24 hours or else jail time. 😬
Great read Maureen, really makes you reflect on your past choices! Thank You!
Thanks Bruce !