I've been running the bridges on Key Biscayne with the girls lately. I initially thought they would just sit in the stroller and be miserable the whole time, but they actually love it. Fifi spends the whole time waving and yelling at people as we go by, and Charlotte eats all the snacks I've brought while Fifi is busy waving.
It's a ridiculous workout for me at least, pushing 100+ pounds of children and stroller up and down hill like that. Lucky for me, Fifi serves as an incredible motivator, frequently yelling things like "Run faster! I'm not feeling any wind!" So the other day I was taking a breather (mostly to keep from throwing up,) when Fifi leaped out of the stroller and took off running, with Charlotte following quickly after.
I watched with awe and pride as these little people sprinted up and down the bridge, over and over again. And it occurred to me that I have sounded like a broken record lately when discussing my children's lives with other mothers, frequently having a conversation that goes something like this:
Other (far more rational and less emotional) Mother: You know, Teal, kids are resilient. They're strong. Challenges and trials are good for them, that's how Kay and Fi will be able to grow.
Teal: I don't WANT resilient children. I want perfectly happy, obscenely sheltered and well-adjusted children. My girls don't need to be resilient. Resiliency is overrated.
OFMRLEM: I understand where you're coming from, but you can't really protect them from life or the real world. It's gonna be okay, I promise.
Teal: Yep. You're right. It is going be okay because I'm currently googling "plastic bubbles designed for four to six year olds."
But watching those little girls run up this incredibly steep bridge made me realize that I just might be wrong about wanting to invest in high-quality plastic bubbles. Fifi and Charlotte were hot and exhausted at the end, but also incredibly empowered and stronger than when they began. So maybe allowing them to experience the hard stuff in life, the "uphill battles" if you will, is a good thing after all.