Wow. I can't believe I was six pounds by the time I was born and I came three months early. I would have been a huge baby had I been carried to term.
"Was I healthy," I asked.
"You spent one night in the NICU. You spent two days in the nursery. We brought you home on the third day."
I looked at my watch.
"Sorry dad," I said, "But I need to go. Carrie is waiting."
"You know," dad said, "You should invite her over here."
"I can't," I told him, "She has epilepsy. The scan could cause a seizure."
"Conner," dad said, "I would be happy to put her on the pass right through list."
I was grateful for that and I told him so. I then hurried across the street to meet with my girl. Minutes ticked by and she wasn't there. An hour passed. I was beginning to panic. Finally she showed up. She was running.
"Sorry," she said, "I was at a doctor's appointment. Did you get my text?"
"Don't worry," I said giving her a hug, "I'm just glad that you're okay."
"So I guess we should order," she said, "I don't really have a lot of money so I guess I'll get a small vanilla cone."
"No," I told her, "It's on me."
"Thanks," she said.
I put an arm around her shoulder and we walked up to the counter. She ordered a hot fudge sundae and I got the same. It was really good... one of my favorites.
"So Carrie," I told her, "My dad wants me to invite you over for dinner."
"Cool," Carrie said, "What time?"
"You can come over after we're done at the ice cream parlor," I said.
"Awesome," Carrie replied.
Ben's point of view
I have often been asked why I let my kids be independent. There is a very good reason for that. Common sense tells us things change either in the short or long term.
I don't want to program it into my children's head that everything in this world is scary or bad. Life can be a challenge at time sure and there are difficult things sure but it's also good and beautiful. When change happens I don't want my children to be afraid to live. Yes, we're careful. Yes we take precautions but we also do so in a way that lets our children know it's safe to be children. That's the best way to parent. It's one of the things I'm most proud of