Change #10….Let them fall.

Today I let my 8 year old daughter canter around a paddock and jump a pony unaided by me. Why is this note worthy?  You may well ask. Well, in this day and age where kids are so wrapped up in cotton wool, bubble wrap and therefore themselves, this is something that some parents may say is irresponsible. I held my breathe, inwardly cringed and stopped myself from not looking. But, you know what, she was fine, more than fine, she was jubilant.
It's hard to let go of the reins, in this case literally. We want to have control, keep our kids from harm and shield them from disaster. But instead we are teaching them how to be reliant, frightened and feeble. Life and getting through it needs a certain toughness of character, an ability to fall off, get back on and start over. My daughter didn't fall off, but one day she will and I will let her, but I will also show her how to pick her self up, dust herself off and and smile in the face of it all. Change #10….Let them fall.