An Alligator’s Dinner Sitting in a Canoe
Several years ago, my wife and I were in Florida spending time with our family. One of the activities we planned was an outing to the everglades where we rented a couple of canoe’s to observe the alligators in their natural environment.
Before setting off the rangers gave us instructions about respecting the alligators and not getting to close. I appreciated their instructions.
My two sons, my daughter-in-law, my wife, and three grandchildren went first while I stayed behind with our youngest grandson. All went well with that group and then it was my turn.
I got into the canoe with my son and daughter-in-law and we paddled around the park. It should be obvious that there is some excitement coming or I wouldn't be telling this story. The truth is, we tipped the canoe with an alligator less than a hundred yards from us.
The important part of this story is how the canoe tipped over. My son started teasing me about the alligator and trying to be funny he said, “If we tip over Dad will scream like a girl!”
Playfully I responded, “Oh yeah! Watch this” and gently rocked the canoe. Unfortunately my attempt to be funny quickly turned into a dangerous situation as we capsized. We tried to get the canoe righted but we couldn’t so we did the most natural thing our family does when faced with danger, we started laughing.
Our lives were probably spared for two reasons: 1) the mishap occurred within a few hundred feet of park rangers who rescued us post haste; and 2) the alligator wasn’t hungry.
Obviously the lack of wisdom and poor example from a responsible adult created a negative impression on our grandchildren. From this experience I learned that we could warn and teach our children to recognize the alligators (life’s dangers) that may unexpectedly appear. We can even help them understand what they can do to avoid them but without a positive example our teaching may lack effectiveness. We can let them know that we love them, trust them, and will always be there for them and most importantly they can depend on our example.
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Anne's Corner
So much about being a parent is about finding the wisdom to balance letting kids do things and protecting them from the alligators of life. Put some thought into why you make the rules you make and then openly share these with your child. Talk about the parts of you that want different things and how you make your decisions. It’s never too early to start.- To the three year old at the park, “Of course you want to pick the flowers. They are so pretty and fun to hold. And they belong to everyone in the city and we should leave them so other people can see them too, and we will want to see them again when we come back.”
- To the teenager, “Of course you want to ride to the game on the back of your friend’s cool new motorcycle. It’s embarrassing to have your parent say no and not let you do what the other kids are doing. And it’s important to me to balance safety and fun. There are several steps to prepare for safety. You will need to purchase and wear a helmet and protective gear (The motorcyclist’s leathers are not just a fashion statement). You will need to find, pay for, and complete an accredited motorcycle safety course before you can be a passenger or a driver. You can only be a passenger if the driver has also completed a safety course and has at least 6 months driving experience. Now let’s talk about another way for you to get to the game today.”
Anne's Corner
So much about being a parent is about finding the wisdom to balance letting kids do things and protecting them from the alligators of life. Put some thought into why you make the rules you make and then openly share these with your child. Talk about the parts of you that want different things and how you make your decisions. It’s never too early to start.- To the three year old at the park, “Of course you want to pick the flowers. They are so pretty and fun to hold. And they belong to everyone in the city and we should leave them so other people can see them too, and we will want to see them again when we come back.”
- To the teenager, “Of course you want to ride to the game on the back of your friend’s cool new motorcycle. It’s embarrassing to have your parent say no and not let you do what the other kids are doing. And it’s important to me to balance safety and fun. There are several steps to prepare for safety. You will need to purchase and wear a helmet and protective gear (The motorcyclist’s leathers are not just a fashion statement). You will need to find, pay for, and complete an accredited motorcycle safety course before you can be a passenger or a driver. You can only be a passenger if the driver has also completed a safety course and has at least 6 months driving experience. Now let’s talk about another way for you to get to the game today.”
