January 8, 2018 at 6:42 p.m.
Grandchildren experienced a life lesson
By Diana Dolecki-
I managed to lose four grandchildren plus a neighbor boy on our recent trip to visit our daughter. This proves that I am a lousy babysitter.
Let me explain. The little boys, Jacob and Nicholas, along with two neighbor kids, Jace and Riley, had participated in our tradition of carving soap. Carving is not quite accurate. Hacking soap into a slimy mess is more realistic. The plan was to toss the soap into a nearby creek to watch it float.
The creek runs through an undeveloped property and is a prime place for exploration. We all trooped down there and the soap was tossed in. Then the kids waded in to rescue their soap. They happily played in the water until Riley decided she needed water boots. She left, but the boys kept on playing.
At some point I tired of watching them and was ready to call them home. Then I saw movement in the woods. I realized it was granddaughters, Paige and Emma, doing their own exploring. I told the boys that I heard something and they should investigate.
They tore off through the underbrush towards the girls. At first I tried to keep up but it was hopeless. I decided the girls were old enough to take care of the boys and went back to where their bikes were parked by the road.
About that time, Riley came back wearing proper boots and dragging her dad along. The three of us called for the others and did a short search but the children had disappeared. Riley and her dad took off in one direction and I went back to the bikes.
After what seemed like forever, I spied the bunch coming down the road. Oops. They were missing one. It seems they had gotten lost, came out in the next subdivision and had taken the road back. Nicholas had gotten tired from all the walking and dropped out of the group when they passed home.
I was relieved that I didn’t have to explain to their parents that I had lost the kids.
A day or so after that I was trying unsuccessfully to email last week’s column. Paige asked what I was doing, She was incredulous that not only do I write stuff but that someone actually reads it. Her comment was, “So, it’s legit?”
I didn’t know whether to be insulted or amused.
Later on, her brother, Nathaniel, who avoided the whole getting lost fiasco by hiding out in his room, was also surprised that not only do I voluntarily write, but people read it. “So, it’s for real?”
Then he asked, “Why?”
I like to think that it is because it is easier to relate to than things that happen farther from home. There is so much bad news that a little dose of bland reality is a welcome relief. Plus, every once in awhile, I hope to show you a different way of looking at life. Sometimes I want to share with you something I have learned.
And sometimes I want to show you that letting your kids get lost and figuring out how to get home on their own is not irresponsible, but a valuable learning experience that makes them feel like they can do anything. That feeling of accomplishment is an invaluable part of growing up.
Let me explain. The little boys, Jacob and Nicholas, along with two neighbor kids, Jace and Riley, had participated in our tradition of carving soap. Carving is not quite accurate. Hacking soap into a slimy mess is more realistic. The plan was to toss the soap into a nearby creek to watch it float.
The creek runs through an undeveloped property and is a prime place for exploration. We all trooped down there and the soap was tossed in. Then the kids waded in to rescue their soap. They happily played in the water until Riley decided she needed water boots. She left, but the boys kept on playing.
At some point I tired of watching them and was ready to call them home. Then I saw movement in the woods. I realized it was granddaughters, Paige and Emma, doing their own exploring. I told the boys that I heard something and they should investigate.
They tore off through the underbrush towards the girls. At first I tried to keep up but it was hopeless. I decided the girls were old enough to take care of the boys and went back to where their bikes were parked by the road.
About that time, Riley came back wearing proper boots and dragging her dad along. The three of us called for the others and did a short search but the children had disappeared. Riley and her dad took off in one direction and I went back to the bikes.
After what seemed like forever, I spied the bunch coming down the road. Oops. They were missing one. It seems they had gotten lost, came out in the next subdivision and had taken the road back. Nicholas had gotten tired from all the walking and dropped out of the group when they passed home.
I was relieved that I didn’t have to explain to their parents that I had lost the kids.
A day or so after that I was trying unsuccessfully to email last week’s column. Paige asked what I was doing, She was incredulous that not only do I write stuff but that someone actually reads it. Her comment was, “So, it’s legit?”
I didn’t know whether to be insulted or amused.
Later on, her brother, Nathaniel, who avoided the whole getting lost fiasco by hiding out in his room, was also surprised that not only do I voluntarily write, but people read it. “So, it’s for real?”
Then he asked, “Why?”
I like to think that it is because it is easier to relate to than things that happen farther from home. There is so much bad news that a little dose of bland reality is a welcome relief. Plus, every once in awhile, I hope to show you a different way of looking at life. Sometimes I want to share with you something I have learned.
And sometimes I want to show you that letting your kids get lost and figuring out how to get home on their own is not irresponsible, but a valuable learning experience that makes them feel like they can do anything. That feeling of accomplishment is an invaluable part of growing up.
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