Like My Momma Was

I want to be a mom like my momma was.  She knew the world wasn't perfect and it was a dangerous place, but she let me live in it.  she taught me right from wrong and then she trusted me to make good choices.  She let me run races, knowing that I would probably come in last.  She knew that I wouldn't get a throphy and that I might be sad, but she let me try.  She knew that if I lost that I would be ok.  I would learn that not everything in life is easy and that if I really want to win then I need to try, and try hard.  I need to practice and train.  

My mom let me play outside, unsupervised,  the neighborhood kids and I used to ride our bikes up and down the street, we used to have arguments and fights, we worked it out.  We made up games and played all day.  We didn't have "organized" play dates, where every minute of fun was planned out.  We used our imaginations.  

People say all the time that our parents didn't know any better.  I think they are wrong.  I think our parent knew better.  They knew that they wouldn't always be around to protect us and they needed to let us learn to protect ourselves.   I know that I want to be a mom like my momma is.