I picked up the kids up from school today and Max asked if he could ride his bike to his buddy's house. I don't know if there was some kind of special herb in my iced tea I wasn't aware of, but I told him "Yes". Wait, what the hell did I just say? What I meant was no. No way. Uh-uh. Nope. But I can't take it back now because Max's little face is all lit up at the thought of independence and freedom and all that overrated stuff. He even did the fist and then shuttled his elbow back to his ribs and said, "YES!" Dangit, what have I done? I mean, this is coming from the same Mom who's made her stance against the ice cream man.
Never ever ever, have they ever asked, nor ever gone over to a friend's house further than across the street, ever. And why now? Well, I guess they are in second grade. When I was in Kindergarten I walked home from school and it was double the distance, and no sidewalks, just walked right on in the middle of the road. And in the summer, I just disappeared for most of the day.
Thankfully, said friend is the son of a pal of mine. She has older kids, so I was nervous to out myself that I'm a hovering mom. What, what?! I know you're all shocked. I am though.
So, I stalled as long as I could and made him put away his laundry. And then I slathered him with sunblock, made him wear a helmet and body armor and then sent him on his way. Fine, no body armor. And he wore his helmet voluntarily. I sent him out to cross 4 streets and get to his friends house. And then I held my breath. I even waited outside just in case, you know, I could hear the crash and go running if I needed to.
I texted my pal and told her he was on his way. She humored me and said she'd let me know when he got there. So I waited. Waited. Still waiting and listened for crashes and/or emergency vehicles. Waiting. Still holding breath. And then the text: "He's here all in one piece." That was the longest 4 minutes ever.
Meanwhile, Ricardo got home from work and after I explained where Max was, all he could say was: "And you said yes!? Wow, this is a big milestone for you."
Yes it is.
When Max was done playing my pal called me to tell me he was on his way. So we went outside to see him come around the corner. As he came around and needed to cross, but couldn't see us yet. The kid looked both ways. TWICE.
And it was as big a deal for him as it was for me. "Dad, Mom let me go to Scott's all by myself!"
I'm so proud of him. But let's be real here, I'm proud of me. Tomorrow I'm sending him on his scooter to the grocery store.
That's how I roll.
"Tomorrow I'm sending him on his scooter to the grocery store."
Excellent! It's about time kids these days learned how to walk up hill, both ways in the snow carrying their brother or sister on their back while doing their homework. Way to keep the tradition alive!