It's been a tradition for the last few years (and mainly as the kids have gotten older) to hang the tire swing down at my in-law home. When I first started making visits to their home, I didn't have any children, and subsequently any of the age to enjoy the tire swing. Now the other grandchildren do seem to be old enough to have lots of fun. And I have to admit, I have enjoyed watching the older kids swing about with wreckless abandonment. No fear. And heck, I guess I can admit to having taken a turn or two myself.
Back in Florida, our home is situated in a very nice, quaint neighborhood. Our lot is so very small and there are no trees. Seems to be the Florida way. With the lack of trees and yard, my kids don't really have outdoor toys or places to roam in the yard. While it's not ideal, Hubby and I have agreed that this home was the best choice for us at the time. The yard is small, but pretty maintenance free. It's just the right size and is manageable for me when Hubby is gone for extended periods. Yet, we both can't help but feel a little sad that the girls are basically bored the moment they enter our yard.
We arrived here on the family farm almost a month ago. And almost immediately, my motherly worries and fears immediately kicked in. Man this farm is so big. And there's all this equipment. And bugs, oh my, the bugs. What will I do with my girls? How will I protect them?
Hubby, on the other hand, was so excited. He was ready to see our girls out in the open with enough area to roam and touch and feel nature. Maybe they'll climb on the tractors, maybe they'll pick the weeds -- maybe they'll do exactly what he did growing up -- be kids.
Still, it's an unfamiliar place and my girls, well, they're not ones to venture far from their mother. And besides, you can't just kick 'em outside alone. They NEED supervision.
So, one morning, I needed to get some inside the house cleaning done. The girls were making it impossible for me. So, I yelled out to Hubby (another advantage of living on the farm, you can yell out and no one hears you) that maybe he could watch the girls while working because I really needed to get some of the cleaning done. He agreed and I sent them outside, with some reservation.
Now those of you who know my Hubby will agree that he's a great father. However . . . when he's engaged in a project, the whole world disapears. In other words, when he's supposed to be watching the kids, he's actually working and occassionally looking over to make sure they're still somewhere in the general vacinity.
So, I sent girls outside with Daddy. For the first few minutes, the stood at the door and cried. "I want my Mommy. I want to go inside. I can't want to be out here." I peeked from the window, ready to cave and just tell them to come back in. But, Hubby, he's not a caver. He holds out to the bitter end. And he's sometimes does what I can't do --- he waits them out. And so he did. He walked out to the barn and commenced to working. And pretty soon. My girls figured out that standing at the door and crying wasn't so much fun. They slowly but surely, made their way out to the barn - one following the other.
For the next hour and a half, I cleaned, in peace. It was so nice to be able to work without the little girls walking behind messing as fast as I cleaned.
I walked outside to the barn to check on them. It was so neat. They were playing and climbing and they were happy. Yes, dirty, but happy.
It was in that moment that learned the importance of letting go a little.
Oh and the tire swing, well, see for yourself . . .
