I’m always humbled when a person trusts me. When at the pool I tell my Chubbers, “Jump!” she closes her eyes and jumps into my arms. If I tell El Cangri, “I’m staying all night beside you,” and then he wakes up to find me sleeping soundly in my own bed, he feels betrayed and unloved.
I treasure this confidence my kids have in me because I know that there’s nothing sadder than loving someone you can’t trust.
Other times I’m in shock at how trusting and afraid of offending others people are, especially in Utah.
Right before Christmas, I was at the pool observing the kids’ swimming lesson. A young woman called my attention and said, “I want to go swimming with my husband and two other kids. Can I leave my baby beside you?”
Before I could say “Yes” or “No” she swam away. The baby was a precious little girl, just a few weeks old. She slept the whole time I watched her. I didn’t mind looking after her. The thing that bothered me A LOT was that when it was time for me to leave, I couldn’t find the mom. By the time my kids were begging me to go change them, I saw the mom playing with her older kids; she thanked me and went on swimming. The baby was left sleeping in her carseat.

Maybe I’m too overprotective, too insanely paranoid of where my kids are and who’s watching after them, but I wish I had said something to her. I’m sure the little girl will grow and have a beautiful, long life, but I shudder when I read the news (online) and learn of so many little ones who are missing. Some are missing by accident, others by neglect, because no one was taking care of them.
My children are the greatest gift I’ve been given. I strive daily to be the best I can be just because of them, and when I fall short of my goal of being kind and patient, they always have a forgiving smile for me.
They trust me to protect them, and that’s what I intend to do. I’m sorry if anyone becomes offended by this paranoia I suffer; I especially apologize to my children for not being able to ride their bikes in the neighborhood unsupervised, or spending the night at a friend’s house. I just love them too much.