Up a Tree: One Mom’s Story of Letting Grow

Love when we get theses stories! This one comes from Olivia Eaddy, a Pennsylvania mom of two. Olivia had just moderated a corporate panel discussion on parenting in the culture of fear, and how hard-yet-liberating it can be to let go. Let Grow President Lenore Skenazy was on the panel. A few days later, Olivia dropped her a note:

Dear Lenore:

True life moment. So yesterday, while gardening, my 6-year-old Aaron came out to help me. After a few minutes of helping he says, “Mom I can climb that tree?” (It’s a smaller flowering tree out front. )

I said, “Show me!” Shocked by my response he said, “Mom — it’s this tree right here!” I said, “I know — now show me!” After a few more attempts to clarify my response by asking some additional questions of me, he finally took on my dare.

His first attempt fails but I quickly encourage him to try again. Third time’s the charm. He makes it up the first couple of branches. I say, “Is that as high as you can go?” His eyes widen in shock to my response. Quickly he ascends higher.

By now my 9-year-old Evan comes around the house from out back, scolding me for letting Aaron take on such a feat. Aaron beams with pride at his brother’s dismay and hidden jealousy. After towering over what seemed to be the whole neighborhood, he bravely makes his way down.

You can guess what happens next. Evan cautiously asks for a turn. I of course say yes — and his brother cheers him on! As he climbs, I make my way to the other side of the yard to do more gardening. I can hear Evan holler for my attention. “Mom, I can’t get down, I need help!” Maybe knowing his 6-year-old brother made it down solo fueled my response: “Just jump!”

“I’m scared!” he says. “You can do it. Jump!” I yell back.

A few minutes later he stands beside me with a big grin. He jumped! I said, “Feels good doing something you thought you couldn’t, doesn’t it?!”

As he grinned some more, I thought I have to share with my girl Lenore!! Really appreciate your work! — Olivia

Note: After Olivia sent this note we asked if we could run it on the blog — and did she maybe have a photo of her kids? Olivia replied:

Sure you can use our story, and here’s a picture of them. It was a moment that I know I would have approached differently before reading your book. [Free-Range Kids.] I know I would have said, “No you can’t climb that tree! It’s not safe.” I then had my WWLD (What Would Lenore Do) moment. I thought about how I climbed trees all the time as a kid and loved it. Nothing has changed about trees or kids abilities so it’s me who has to change!