I just let Garrett walk to Kwik Trip by himself.
Yes. I did.
It's two blocks away. He has to cross the busy highway to get there. I gave him my cell phone and explained to him what to do in case of emergency. And then he left.
I started to panic. I imagined every little thing that could possibly happen to him while he was gone. Out of my sight. Out of my control. Out there alone in the cruel, cold world full of kidnappers, murderers and child molesters. What the fuck was I thinking?
Grace was crying for her Squeaky. I told her he went to Kwik Trip. "By himself?" she asked, obviously thinking, "What a shitty mother you are!"
The phone rang, and I ran to it, my heart racing, just knowing it was the police asking me why I let my child walk alone. It was Garrett. "I'm on my way back now," he said.
He's home safe now, drinking his milkshake. I feel a little like crying. I don't think my heart can take this. What am I going to do when he is older and doesn't need me anymore? What about when I hand over the car keys and watch him drive away?
This will take a little getting used to, I guess.
3 comments:
wow....I was running off like that when I was 6 or 7, just get on the bike and go.....what a different world today...
I was going to say the same thing as John just commented. I remember taking off on my bike or walking to the park or grocery store by myself as young as 6 years old. But now in this case, Garrett has the added security and benefit of having a cell phone with him. Maybe you could provide him with a whistle or something as well, if you're really worried. And I'm sure it'll get easier letting him go off on his own little by little.
I was running around at a much younger age than Garrett as well. So why do I feel like I made a bad parenting decision to let him go? I won't be doing that again for a long time...
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