Crash Course May 30, 2008

I had to have the paper notarized and everything.  The one that basically says I won’t hold anyone responsible for any life threatening or maiming injuries, etc. my son may incur at the off road racetrack tomorrow.  He has been invited to go with a relative to “copilot” the car (basically meaning he goes along for the ride).  If I had it my way, my 16-going-on-17-year-old would be wrapped in bubble wrap before leaving the house each morning.  I would still be carrying him around myself if he wasn’t bigger than me. The responsible relative assures me that the course is safe, (”even little kids go with their parents on this one”) and that this waiver is just standard protocol, kind of like the waivers you sign before surgery (Exactly!….has he ever read  those?).

I asked my questions, weighed the risks and decided that he could do it…..and haven’t had a good night’s sleep since.  My son, on the other hand, is very excited (of course he is….it’s not his  kid who is in harm’s way).   He will take all the necessary precautions including wearing clean underwear (I’m insisting!).  Helmet, harness, rabbit’s foot and lucky socks will all be secured and ensuring his safety. 

I partially let him go because I do not want him to grow up afraid to take (calculated) risks.  I do not subscribe to blindfolded naked skydiving or train chasing.  I just don’t want my kid afraid of his own shadow like I have been (…though it is a pretty big shadow these days…..)

So, I will clench my jaw, force a smile, and lie straight through my teeth, telling him how confident I am that everything will be great.  I won’t be fooling him.  He knows that I will be wringing my hands, fighting bouts of diarrhea and imagining the worst until I hear that it is over. 

Then he can give me the “I told you so” look and I can give a prayer of thanks.