On Tue, 23 May 2017, Graham. wrote:


> It's difficult not to worry about our children more than our parents
> worried about us when this can happen two miles from here
>
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-
arena-bombing-live-attack-13075807
>
Yes, it's different when you become responsible for children.  When I
spent time with the young daughter of a friend thirty years ago, I was
always worried that something would happen.  But I decided I'd just make the
effort.  So when she got interested in stairs, wanting to go up and down
them endlessly, I wouldnt' stop her.  I'd just be on a lower stair, so if
she fell, I could catch her.  I let her explore, I just explored with her,
rather than sit on a bench and hope she'd be okay.  Maybe not the same
thing as "running wild" but this was starting when she was a couple of
years old.

I remember later, and I can't remember how old she was, we were at the
playground, she climbed to the top of the climbing bars, and looked at me.
She was waiting for permission.  And then she jumped.  She was fine, and I
wasn' worried because she wasn't fooling around, and she was being
careful.  if she'd been with friends, I'd worry that she was taking a
chance based on their expectations of her.

Parents have to protect children, because they are small.  But the
children grow up.  Parents need to leave an invisible shield to provide
some protection, and some of that is by way of trusting the children at
some point.

There is always doubt, what if something happens.  But being fearful of
the world is also not a good situation either.

   Michael

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05