I just read the best article!  It was titled "What's ruining our kids?" or something like that.  Wanna know the answer?  "YOU!!!"  It was all about how parents in general these days are bubble wrapping their kids (of course not literally, but I'm sure some have considered it!) and that as a society we are 'wussifying' our young!  It was so refreshing to hear someone else out there sharing similar views as me.

When I was 5 I lived on a street filled with kids and at one end was a walking path along Mission Creek and the other was BMX jumps.  I would ride my Pink Missy bike (sometimes barefoot and never wearing a helmet) and fly off those jumps! All the kids ran wild up and down the street to each others houses and there was never a problem.  Everyone looked out for one another.  To the best of my knowledge no one went missing, got hit by a car or was kidnapped!  When I was 7 my parents split up and we moved, we lived in one place for a while then moved again to an awesome little country house on 50 acres of orchard.  I think I was 9 by this time and we played in the orchard (never with an adult and we never got lost or eaten by a wild animal) we rode ski do's and motor bikes and explored for hours.  All my mom had to do was stand on the back porch and holler for us to come in for a meal.  My dad, at this time, would drop me and my sister, who is 4 years younger, off at the water slides for the day when he had to work and we were left largely to our own devices there...we never drowned, or were kidnapped or hit by a car or there either!  

I carry these memories from my childhood and try to raise my kids with some of the freedom I was given.  My kids, the older 2 anyways, play in the backyard by themselves.  They are 3 and 5.  I trust that they are safe back there, and they know what will happen to them if they exit the backyard for any reason!  Bella is trusted to go into the alley and bring in the blue bins, she knows what to do if by chance a car is coming!  They are learning that not all adults think they're amazing and that, in fact, that some people are downright dangerous and scary.  They have chores, quite a few of them actually and are expected to help without reward because they are members of this family and we all need to contribute.  They are expected to problem solve and not melt down if they have a problem.  They are always welcome to ask for help, but things are not going to be done for them.  We are trying to raise our kids to be productive and proactive members of our family so they will be productive and proactive members of society.  Once they leave the security of our home I want them prepared for the sometimes harsh reality of the world.  No one is going to give a crap how special your momma thinks you are out there, they will judge you on your own merits.  

All that said, I love my kids and yes, there are definitely times the mama bear in me comes out and my sole focus is to protect my young.  I'm not perfect, and I'm no authority in the 'right' way to raise your kids.  I do the best I can.  My mom taught me to work hard, depend on yourself, follow your gut and treat people how you want to be treated.  I'm trying to teach my girls that too.  After all, our kids are our future right?  It's looking pretty grim if things keep going down this bubble wrap lined path!