[Thriving Despite Us] Trying to Avoid the Bubble

[Kate]

Friday night, I slept with Rosie, my baby (yes, she is 6, almost 7 but she is still my baby).  I often blog about trying to get the kids out of my bed, but after the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I needed to hold Rosie close. It's all I can do to not wrap all of my kids up in a big giant bubble and keep them safe and sound with me forever.  I can maybe pull it off with my little two but am guessing the big two are going to fight me tooth and nail if I try.  

And I won't try, at least not too hard, because a life wrapped up in my bubble won't be much of a life at all. And I know that.  However, I will hug my babies a little tighter these next few days and will make some exceptions to the "everyone out of my bed so Daddy doesn't burst a vein" rule.  I will worry more when I drop them off at school in the mornings. There will be no solo trips to the mall for my older kids.  I will watch the clock closely when they are due home.





I tend to lean toward the overprotective and events like these do little to help me cure my helicopter mom tendencies.  The reality is this type of event is completely out of my control and punishing my kids by locking them in the house won't save them. I know that, too.  With the way things are today, we could be together at the mall, the movie theater, on an airplane...it's impossible to predict.

So I do what I imagine all mothers do.  I just don't think about it. When my kids are out of my sight, I just assume all is well...I have to. Otherwise, I will make myself and the kids (and my poor husband) crazy.

I do make a point of always telling them that I love them before they go anywhere.  I want them to always remember that. Then, I give them the freedom I think they are old enough to handle, bury my head in the sand and hope all will be well.
 
How do you balance protecting your children while letting them have their independence? 





 

 

 

 

 

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Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 12/17/2012 11:58:00 AM