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We had lots of drama and trauma this morning. All before 7:30 in the morning.
Driving to school these days, Big Girl sits in the front seat. She is very proud of the fact that she is now big enough to legally sit there and likes to be “in charge” of the radio and environmental controls wherever we go.
This morning, however, I was wishing she was still in the back seat.
We were driving down a stretch of road that, for our rural area, is fairly busy in the mornings with commuters and mommies headed to school carpool lines. There was a car in front of us and we were cruising along when out of nowhere a raccoon dashed out of the tall grass on the side of the road and in front of the car in front of us.
I quickly told Big Girl “don’t look, don’t look,” but I think it was too late.
The poor raccoon was rolled under the car as the driver was traveling too fast to stop and to swerve to avoid the creature would’ve surely meant a wreck.
It was the first time she’s ever seen anything like that. Understandably, she was very traumatized. (hysterical is a more accurate description, actually)
My poor baby.
How do you explain to a child those split-second decisions you make where you choose the safety of yourself and, most likely, the children riding in the car with you, over saving a creature’s life? She is such an animal fanatic that all she could think about was the poor animal dying and that the person had not even swerved or slowed down.
As a driver (and a mom) I can only imagine what went through that driver’s mind in the milliseconds before they hit the raccoon.
I hate that she had to see that. I hate that a little bit her innocence was taken away today.
I know it’s part of life. I know that she is going to see things and experience things that I will want to shield her from – and that seeing a raccoon get hit by a car is probably one of the milder things. (although I hope and pray not)
Big Girl is also dealing with some new realities this year at school. Fourth grade involves a lot more responsibilities (and less hand-holding) than last year – they actually change classes! And, she is dealing with the realization that some friends are not “forever friends” but more friends of a season – and that it’s ok that people move on to find other friends.
I hate knowing that I can’t wrap that protective bubble around my babies anymore. I want to keep them safe in the cocoon of mommy’s protection and shield them from anything negative or harmful. Unfortunately, life is not that way. Kids grow up, expand their horizons and experience new things – not all of them good.
Watching her deal with these things is hard. I want to swoop in and fix everything – make it all better and sunshine and roses for her. But, I know I can’t. I know she has to work through some of this on her own.
And I know that my job now is to be there to support and guide her as she learns how to deal with these things – as a big girl, not a little one.
But I still wish I could pull her into my lap and keep her there, safe, forever.
What a poignant post! Yes, they do grow up, but this is a difficult situation, and I know I never really figured out a way to take the “hurt” out of something that’s a part of, well, life. I can tell, though, that she knows you love her, and that’s what counts. SITS sent me by, and I’m glad they did!
Over the River and Through the Woods…
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Yes, fourth grade is tough. They’re too little to be big, but too big to be little. I hope your daughter transitions easily.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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It is a tough transition. A rude awakening that life is not all about snack time and circle time and playing on the playground. She’s adjusting…
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Aww…I still remember when I was probably about your daughter’s age and we were on a family trip somewhere. A squirrel darted out and we ran it over and I think I sobbed for an hour. And yes, unfortunately, that wasn’t at all the worst thing I’ve seen since then. But that’s okay. She knows she’s always safe with you.
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Stopping by from Mama Kat’s! Loved your post…even though it reminds me how much I’m dreading the days my girls start facing things I can’t really help them with. : )
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Cheryl, I hope she knows she is safe with me! That is one thing I ALWAYS try to emphasize – that no matter what, things are OK when you’re with mommy.
Thanks for stopping by!!
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Deanna,
Thanks for stopping by for a visit! I used to think the hard part of parenting was when the girls were little – now I think it just gets harder as they get older.
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