I came home from work yesterday and learned that my 8 year-old daughter rode down the concrete steps in front of our house while sitting inside a plastic cooler.
Earlier in the day, my husband heard a commotion while studying in the living room. He quickly went outside and put a stop to the most exciting ride since the Tornado at Six Flags.
He barked, “You’re grounded!” and immediately sent the neighbor children home.
Once inside, he asked our daughter to stand on the bed; he looked her in the eye. With a stern voice he asked her what she was thinking. Her face dropped as she looked at her feet. Without warning, a smile transformed his face, and he said, “Good job! I love it!” He continued, ”You’re not grounded. I just didn’t want the neighbor kids thinking it was OK for them to do that.” She beamed! Her small frame bounced up and down, and she high-fived her daddy. He said again, “Good job!”
I stopped and wondered how her mother would have reacted upon discovering her adventure?
I would have made her stop.
I would have sent the neighbor children home.
But then…..
I would have warned her of the dangers of riding a plastic cooler down the concrete steps. I would have told her how I hate emergency rooms, and copays, and broken bones. I would have asked what on earth made her think it was OK to ride a plastic cooler down the concrete steps right by the road! I would have made her cry.
I would have crushed her adventurous spirit and wounded her tender heart.
When the house was quiet and the kids were in bed, my husband and I shared a laugh about the day’s events. I silently thanked God that my kids have one parent who will encourage their sense of adventure. I also asked him to have mercy and limit our emergency room visits.
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One Comment
I just now got a chance to look at this. It’s so funny how I can see it all playing out in my mind’s eye. I think it’s because I’ve had the same thing happen at my house, using different implements.