reflection

Here I am typing for a minute as John has just returned from a week away climbing in the mountains with his brother. It's wonderful to have him home....and boy, did he get hugs when he landed!
I'm surprised by the reaction of some people to his trip. A friend of mine asked how I could let him go? As if I were "allowing" him....I realized then that we ARE different from other families. I know how important this is for John to go every year, not only for his relationship with his brother, but it's a very spiritual thing for him to be up high. He needs it. And I understand. I don't "allow" him to go. It is hard to be with the kids 24/7 with him gone....nobody to bounce ideas off of, nobody to get a hug from when I'm feeling impatient, etc. But, if I needed something, he would make sure it happened for me. Out of respect, out of courtesy, out of love. This is exactly the way our family operates. We treat our kids this way, too....we help them get what they want because we love them and respect them....and it goes both ways.