Lessons You Can't Teach

Maureen is overseas.

She spent last week in Russia.

They stayed with host families.

When she called she mentioned that the home she was staying in didn't have kids their age.

The other kids were staying with families that had kids their age.

Maureen is traveling with a group that consists of 8 boys and 4 girls.

When I asked her about the kids her voice changed ever so slightly.

I asked if everything was ok.

She said everything was fine.

And then mentioned that her host family didn't have any kids her age and the other ones did.

Maureen is on Facebook.

I am on Facebook and we are friends on Facebook.

Today I noticed that a picture had been posted on her page.

It was sent from a new friend, a friend from Russia.

As I looked through the pictures I noticed this new friend was female.

Most of the pictures had her with the boys.

They were hugging, giving her piggy back rides and snuggling.

The girl was dressed in skin tight, strapless dresses and high heels.

This is a new experience for Maureen.

One I had not prepare her for.

One I knew she would encounter.

But a tough one nevertheless.

My daughter is growing up.

Parenting

Momo left for camp yesterday. She has gone to camp before, for a month at a time.

But this time it was different.

She is going on a leadership program to Russia and Sweden. She will be gone for 5 1/2 weeks.

This time it's different because she spreading her wings and I am not there to guide her.

This time it's different because she going to worlds I have never seen.

This time it is different because she is experiencing things I will never experience.

Parenting is such a strange and complicated things. They place this beautiful being in your arms and from that day forward your job is to prepare them to leave you.

Your job to help them discover themselves, their talents. their riches.

And once they have made these wonderful discoveries their job is to go out in the world and share them with others.

Allowing them and trusting them to do these is one of the hardest discoveries I have had to make.

Safe

Son came down last night after I had tucked him in. He was sobbing and said he had a bad dream.

After he cuddled with me on the couch, he said he had "kindof" a dream. And then he said he didn't feel safe.

The words ripped my heart open. And I did not know what to say.

He has been through a lot. His uncle died in April, his Papa died in May, a good friend died in August and his Grammy is dying. ( hospice was called in this week).

What do you say a 7 year that has had so much lost?

I put a mattress on the floor in our room. I told him to get his cow, Red Sox bear and Spotty. ( stuffed animals) I put Gulliver's ( our dog) bed next to the mattress. I told him Daddy and I were right there.

I didn't know what else to do.

It is my job to keep him safe. I can't control what is happening or has happened.

I felt helpless. I felt let down by the universe.

I just want him to feel safe.