6.2 Miles

I recently had to visit the pediatrician with my daughter. While waiting to be called back I did my usual thing people watch. I saw a precious newborn baby. I saw a little boy with pink eye, rubbing his eyes and touching everything. The mother wearing a cleaning service uniform seemed exhausted. I even saw someone I knew from high school. But then I looked at someone passing by out side the pediatric office. It was the mothers voice that caught my attention first. "Come on, lets go!" She said with a stern voice. I expected to see a lackadaisical child maybe one my children's age, because I  have had that tone with my own children. Instead I saw a toddler. No more than 3 years old. I thought no wonder he isn't matching her steps. But then I noticed something even more interesting. He had a cell phone. A touch screen phone he was trying to manipulate with his small hands. I couldn't help but shake my head and think take back your cell phone and take him by the hand.

Some days it seems parents (even myself) will use anything to occupy their child's mind just to have a moments peace.

I was having a conversation with my husband this after noon via text telling him "that summer was going to kill me this year." Most of you know we moved into smaller quarters. The place we are in now is so quaint and you can hear anything and everything from any room in the trailer. The kids were home today and were driving me crazy. It was one of those moments where I said something I would soon regret. That quote above. The truth is I couldn't imagine my life without any of my kids. I can't even fathom how broken I would be if anything happened to them.

The conversation turned into some jokes and we left it at that.

Then the kids and I were sitting in the living room just chatting and my oldest daughter blurted out Chase has a secret. My guess was he had a girlfriend and he said No! She came over and whispered in my ear, "Chase walked to school one day." Now I knew this not to be true because he rides a bus to school. So I asked with a shrieking.... "what?" He responded with a yep! Me: "You are kidding right?" Chase: "Nope!"

How could this happen?

It all started when Chase missed the bus on Monday. He was then grounded for 2 days. Mike figured with the move he might need time to get adjusted to walking to the bus stop. So his first punishment was lenient. Mike told Chase the next time he missed the bus it would be a week. Well Chase missed the bus just 2 days later and instead of facing punishment. Instead of facing 1 week of being grounded he started walking, He walked 6.2 miles in sprinkling rain. After doing a search for offenders in the area I found anywhere from 150 to 350, depending on the mileage around where he walked.

My first thought Thank you God for protecting my baby boy. My only son.

My second thought where did I go wrong. As parents have we placed that much fear in him that he can't come to us when he has a problem.

I laughed as he laughed telling the story then I cried! I bawled like a baby thinking about what could have happened to him. 6.2 miles. He walked past of the worst neighborhoods. Crossed 4 lanes of traffic at some point. I still sit here in disbelief.

Obviously we had a long conversation about making responsible decisions. We also told him how much we love him and how we are always here for him even when he makes mistakes, because we all make them. My prayer is that he will remember that next time.

So what did I learn from this?

I was sleeping. I had no clue what was going on with my son. I had no idea that he would choose to walk (yes I am going to say it again) 6.2 miles by himself in the rain. I don't get up with him in the morning. I let him get himself off in the morning. Yep I get the parent of the year award. After this stunt I feel like the worst parent ever. I don't want to be that parent that enables my child, but I also don't want to be out of touch with them either. Seems I need to do some soul searching.