Holding Landon!
After spending last week at a great conference called, “Polishing the Pulpit” in Sevierville, TN we headed to the Smoky Mountains after it ended on Thursday morning. We had a picnic lunch at a popular spot called Chimney’s. This is a beautiful picnic area situated on the banks of a beautiful creek. After eating the kids wanted to play on the rocks and in the creek. They took off their shoes and began to wade in the cold water and played on the rocks.
Brooke on the Rocks
Austin Climbing!
We were a bit nervous, knowing the danger of them slipping and falling, but we also don’t want to be over-protective. Brooke was cautious, Austin is older and athletic, but Landon is 5 and all boy. He hasn’t heard of caution or fear, except when it comes to heights. He took off. Amanda instructed me to stay close behind! He was loving it. He was trying to keep up with Austin climbing all over the rocks. Amanda was taking pictures and talking. I was trying to not get my feet wet and certainly not fall. I was a bit nervous and uncomfortable.
I kept saying, “Be careful; Stay low; and let me help you.” Landon kept saying, “I can do it, Dad; I don’t need your help!” Now we didn’t just say these things once or twice, I said it a few hundred times and he said his line a few hundred too! He didn’t want help, but I was there, at least a step or two behind. Actually, he did need my help, you see when he would come to a tough part, where he needed a hand or lift, he would look to me. He gladly took the assistance.
Me Chasing After Landon!
This is Landon telling me, “I can do it, Dad!” while pulling his hand away.
Later, Austin and I even set out and made it all the way across the creek (I gave up on keeping my Keens dry and just walked in the cold water, now my goal was to not get my shorts wet that were holding my keys and wallet.) Even Austin needed help to span one treacherous step. But he didn’t want very much, because he could do it too.
Austin still needs a little help from Dad!
We made it to the other side!
Amanda did well letting the boys, and even this older boy, play in the dangerous conditions. As I was chasing Landon around it occurred to me–this is parenting! As I was feeling my heart rate go up and constantly worried someone was going to fall; I thought–this is parenting. Wasn’t this experience a microcosm of what parenting is? The challenge of letting your kids go in the world with so many dangers. The constant tug-a-war between the child’s independence and the parent’s control. What I was doing is what I will be doing for years to come, and in another sense never quit doing. It is the concern, the advise, the fear you have for them. It is their desire to do it themselves and show they have what it takes to do it without you.
The crew minus Caleb who didn’t make the trip!
I left the creek that day feeling worn out and also very grateful to God that we had fun on the rocks and no one got hurt. I also experienced in a very real way, what parenting is really all about on a much bigger scale.
