Growing up number 8 of 8 I wasn't always supervised in my actives as a child. During the summers my older brother Dan and I would be outside jumping on the tramp and playing in the creek almost every day. My memories of playing in the creek go back for as long as I can remember. We would build dams, race boats, and just swim when the dam was big enough. We even had our own waterslide by going up the culvert under the road and sliding down it on tubes. Those were great times.
This past weekend my boys, with the help of two gorgeous little blond accomplices, managed to persuade me to let them play in the creek for the first time. It was an impromptu dip in the creek so the boys just took off their pants and jumped in. They had played around the creek numerous times but up until then I had not let them get in. I do not recall any near death experiences as a child but nevertheless I have been very apprehensive about letting them get in for some reason.
On Saturday, with my longtime comrade in arms Roger and his 3 kids, I took Gavin up Adams Canyon for his very first hike. The canyon is full of memories for Roger and me. We would race mountain bikes down the unforgiving trail, camp out, free climb the rock walls, and frequent the 3rd waterfall (about a 75’ waterfall) then climb the ridge next to it to get a view of the other side of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake. Our hike this day only took us to the first waterfall (about 20’ tall). The trail to get down to the waterfall can be dangerous as the trail is right on the edge of the gorge that the river flows down. Roger appeared to be in complete control as he carried his beautiful little Jane down the steep trail , and as Janelle (Sorry for the misspelling) and Thomas trekked alongside. I on the other hand was a nervous wreck. I kept a close hand on Gavin to make sure that he didn’t even so much as slip much less fall in any sort of way.
As all these memories of all these dangerous things we used to do up that canyon flooded my memory, I couldn’t help but notice what an overprotective dad I am. Granted, Gavin is only 5, but I think I have a problem here. I don’t like seeing my kids nearing any sort of perceived danger no matter how trivial it really is. The creek is a perfect example. I played in that thing since I was at least 4 years old if not younger, and nothing ever happened to me. I think that this weekend has shown me that I need to grow up a little bit as a parent. I need to let my kids spread their wings a little more so that they can begin to fly on their own. Gavin starts kindergarten in the next few weeks so hopefully by then I will be able to “cut the cord” and let him leave the nest by himself and go into the world for the first time.
