Today I was reminded of what childhood carefree abandon felt like.

As I watched my boys frolic in the water in the hot hot sun with their friends, I was transported back to my childhood.

It didn’t start out that way. With Aunty Stacy at the top of the water slides, I positioned myself at the splash pool at the foot of the slides. On the lookout for anything or anyone that could cause any harm to come to our group of boys. But as the time wore on, and as I assessed that the lifeguards were indeed vigilant, and that the boys weren’t being overly rambunctious, I started to be absorbed in their adventures.

They had not a care in the world, and they committed every fiber of their beings to having FUN. You couldn’t help but chuckle out loud observing their antics. And their friendship. They created imaginary story lines. They looked out for each other. They enjoyed each others’ company. And most of all they found adventure in the most ordinary things.

Thank God.

As a child we roamed our neighborhood – walked on roofs, climbed trees, played cricket in the street, played races in the street. Played “slow bicycle race” – slowest man wins. We picked cherries, and mangoes and pommecytheres. We had lip-sync competitions in the street. And hide-and-seek with an entire neighborhood block as the hiding zone. We turned lazy tropical days into memories we will all treasure forever.

This is the childhood I wanted for my boys. But the reality has been different. In an age of kidnappings and too much TV, how do you protect your children and still give them the freedom to imagine and adventure? There’s no easy answer, but watching my boys yesterday, I made a resolution.

To my boys:

1. I promise to encourage your grand adventures… and your lasting friendships.
2. I recognize that you’re ready for more freedom, and I promise to loosen the reigns, but not to give them up completely.

I am after all, by definition, your Mom.