10/21/2013
Like most kids under ten years old, I loved to play hide and go seek. While “it” was counting (not so slowly) to 20, I had to either hide somewhere so that I could not be found or perhaps hide dangerously close to base so I could make a mad dash once “it” stepped away. Either way, I knew that I only had twenty seconds to take cover. My heart would pound as the counting got closer and closer to 20. I knew that once my time was up, it was up. To eliminate any doubt of this fact, “it” would always yell “...18, 19, 20 … Here I come ready or not!”. Whether I was ready or not, my time was up. I had fair warning and I knew what was coming. It was up to me to make the most of that time.
I had no idea that this concept would repeat itself over and over as I grew older and that it really was a life lesson. Each of the milestones and rites of passage come whether we are ready or not. First day of school, First day driving alone, High School graduation, College graduation, Wedding day, and so forth. After you go through these yourself, you then repeat them from a parents point of view. I have read many stories of parents dropping off their kids at college. Most of them recount the drive to the school and wanting to make sure their little baby bird knows everything they need to know before leaving the nest. Will they study on their own? Do they know how to do a budget? Will the pick the right kinds of friends? Do they know basic car maintenance? Will they act appropriately when dating? Will they find a good church? Will they call their mother once a week? Do they know how to do laundry? The list goes on. Of course, by the time you drive them to school, it is too late to add any more wisdom. Either they know it or they don’t.
Thankfully, my kids have not reached that stage yet. My two sons are 17 and 15. I will likely be an emotional wreck when the day arrives for them to finally leave the nest. I had a very small taste of this the other day. I have been taking my sons camping as soon as they could walk. I remember buying a new backpack and fitting my youngest son (probably about 4 at the time) inside of it as a test. He is now taller than me. Our campouts usually ranged from 3-5 miles away from the car with lots of ‘car camping’ trips as well. We were active with the Boy Scouts for several years and went camping both with and without them. Well, last weekend it was decided that I would stay with my dad in his camper and the boys would go backpacking on the trail alone...without me. Their destination was only 2.5 miles down a well marked and highly travelled trail. Never the less, the drive to the drop-off was a bit nerve racking for me (although I tried not to show it). Did they have enough warm clothes? matches? sleeping bag? water? Would they keep away from snakes? Would they stay on the trail? Would they practice Leave-No-Trace? Would they be able to operate the stove and be safe with the fire? Would they stay away from drop-off ledges? I tried to add in a few last minute tips, but I knew it was useless. I knew they were well trained and well prepared and it was only one night, but I still wondered if they were really ready. It was just a precursor of things to come as they wandered down the trail without me … ready or not.
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