I have been offered a contract on Mrs. Katrina Martin Davenport’s forthcoming book, Chanda’s House!
“Ok, can I get excited now? Can I can I? Can I Puh-leeeeeeeeeaze?”
Ok Snowbird. You can get excited now.
Hmm. When was the last time I did a cartwheel? How about you?
As I wrote this I made a mental connection between risk-taking and the inner child. When I am afraid to take a risk, I fear getting hurt. Or, rather, I fear my inner little baby child will get hurt. So sensible, adult Kate steps in and protects little Snowbird from any potential outcome that might injure or otherwise taint the little girl. Afterall, I’ve been hurt so many times before. Why would I want anything to hurt her? I want her to keep her innocence. I want to shelter her from pain. But like an overprotective parent, I don’t see that allowing my inner child to take risks is a good, healthy thing for her. I fail to see the growth that will occur when the pain is gone–if there is any pain to begin with. I don’t trust that she can face her challenges and bounce back no matter what the outcome. Keep her in my comfort zone. She must stay safe. But, like a child who is overprotected, Snowbird desperately needs to be trusted. She needs her voice to be heard. She wants to take risks because it is awful boring in that comfort zone, especially after 30 years of it. And we all know what happens to the most overly protected children sooner or later–they rebel. Rebellion is far less safe than calculated risk-taking.
It is a struggle, and I really must learn to trust myself; trust my Snowbird. Because sometimes she really does know best–and there’s no doubt about it, sometimes parents just don’t understand.
