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Helicopter Parenting
May. 14th, 2011 12:13 pm Helicopter Maple Seed Parenting, that is.
On the way to the YMCA this morning, we noted that the van's windshield wipers were simply covered with maple tree seeds, with their wings for being blown places to grow. I got the children to make predictions of whether or not all of the seeds would make the ten mile trip to the Y. We laughed, and pretty much agreed that we'd seed the roads with maple trees all the way there, and arrive with a clean windshield.
Much to our surprise, despite curves, railroad tracks and fifty five mph speeds, two seeds stubbornly clung to position. On the way home, we made predictions again. Sparkle thought they'd both stay. Irish thought one would stay, and one would go. Dino was exceedingly resistant to making a prediction, but finally opined that the smaller seed was more likely to stay because it looked more stuck. I took that as his prediction, (under protest) and I agreed with Sparkle, since if they'd made it TO the Y, they'd make it home, I reasoned.
It was a bit surprising how intently my family watched those vibrating seeds all the way there, and all the way home. (Or maybe not, considering how geeky we all are.)
The small seed flew off quickly, but that last seed stuck along that windshield wiper tenaciously the entire way home! Irish was so pleased to be so lucky today!
It's the small things like this in life that make me absurdly happy!
On the way to the YMCA this morning, we noted that the van's windshield wipers were simply covered with maple tree seeds, with their wings for being blown places to grow. I got the children to make predictions of whether or not all of the seeds would make the ten mile trip to the Y. We laughed, and pretty much agreed that we'd seed the roads with maple trees all the way there, and arrive with a clean windshield.
Much to our surprise, despite curves, railroad tracks and fifty five mph speeds, two seeds stubbornly clung to position. On the way home, we made predictions again. Sparkle thought they'd both stay. Irish thought one would stay, and one would go. Dino was exceedingly resistant to making a prediction, but finally opined that the smaller seed was more likely to stay because it looked more stuck. I took that as his prediction, (under protest) and I agreed with Sparkle, since if they'd made it TO the Y, they'd make it home, I reasoned.
It was a bit surprising how intently my family watched those vibrating seeds all the way there, and all the way home. (Or maybe not, considering how geeky we all are.)
The small seed flew off quickly, but that last seed stuck along that windshield wiper tenaciously the entire way home! Irish was so pleased to be so lucky today!
It's the small things like this in life that make me absurdly happy!
