Remember those days when your kids would say, “You’re not the boss of me!” and you would smile because really, you kind of were the boss of them? I mean, who else was going to help tuck them in bed on time and make sure they were fed and snuggled and taught their manners? It was your job to be the boss.

Or maybe your kids are little and you’re in the middle of being “not the boss” right now.

Or maybe your kids are perfectly mannered and would never say such a thing:)

But lately I’m feeling the pain of really not being “the boss” anymore as my kids grow older.

And that’s exactly as it should be. I fully believe that my “job” is to work my way out of a job.

BUT I do miss having kids fall in line when I tell them it’s time to do this or that.

I miss those days when I could say something like, “we’re memorizing this poem as part of our jobs this week” and they would look at me with their big eyes and say, “ok!”

They all grew these opinions and likes and dislikes and just because someone says “jump,” they want to know why. And how. And they just might have something better to do than that jumping.

So, one afternoon after Dave and Lu headed off to Wisconsin for doctor appointments and Elle and Carson were here to still keep Claire company, it was like a little gift to feel like the boss again when I suggested “let’s go on a hike,” and they looked at me and said, “sure!”

Ok, maybe Claire still needed a little cajoling, but she came. And I think it’s safe to say she loved being on that sunlit mountain amidst that garden of desert delights.

I’ll let the pictures tell most of the story.

It was all fine and dandy until poor Bo ran through a batch of jumping cacti. Poor girl. But she was patient as we worked hard in that sinking-sun-drenched mountainside de-prickling her.

Here she was right before her mishap:

Lovies.

Oh yes, it was good to be the boss again for a little while.

But I have to admit, I’m pretty happy with the way these kids are growing into being their own bosses.

They’re doing a pretty good job.

Love them forever.

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3 Comments

    1. Now that you’re asking of course I cannot remember!! Dang it! I thought I took a screenshot from all trails but I guess I didn’t. There are SO many good ones though, be sure to use the All Trails app where there are all kinds and varying difficulty hikes as well as reviews so you can find the perfect one for you. So glad you’re coming to the desert, it’s so beautiful right now!
      xoxo

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