Proud moment...

As some of you know (and others are about to find out), I spent last week in Ireland with the family.

One day last week, I'd been talking to my daughter, explaining why Mrs Baph always over-reacts & panics to potentially dangerous situations the kids get into (example in case, climbing all over Giants Causeway). Don't get me wrong, I want to ensure that they're safe, but a little risk brings confidence etc, so I let all the kids get away with more than the Mrs does.

Anyway, later we went to Carrick-a-Rede (rope bridge 20m across a 30m drop). I asked all of the kids when we were facing it, if they wanted to cross. All except my daughter declined.

So we went across the bridge, and me being me, I held her back to ensure no-one was on the bridge at the same time, waited until about the middle & then jumped up & down & swung the bridge from left to right.

Anyway, to the point... We're sat there on the small island, right on the edge of a cliff (out of sight of the Mrs obviously), when she turned around to me:

"Dad, I've learnt something today. I've learnt that with enough confidence I can do anything, and see so many more beautiful things - like this."

You can talk to kids until you're blue in the face, but it's awesome when something like that sinks in all by itself.

EDIT: Oh yea, and she also made it up a moderate free climb whilst we were away - approx 20m (with me very close behind her) - not bad to say her 8th birthday is in a couple of weeks.

[anna]

awwwwwwww warm and fuzzy moment there ... kids never fail to amaze you

[Lissa]

Nice one Baph..........I'm in full agreement with you about kids needing to try these things for themselves.

If we wrap our kids in cotton wool how will they ever learn about danger or have that feeling of achievement?