Is it different raising kids in Florida than the rest of America?

 Welcome to paradise.

Where I grew up winter storms would lock us indoors for days.  When we finally managed to make it outside we did all kinds of things that we hadn’t been allowed to do indoors. My best friend and I would wait for the warmest part of the day and then walk across the lakes that were slowly thawing in the early spring sunshine. It was pretty scary hearing the ice crack under our feet but, exciting too and no one was around to suggest otherwise. 

Parents I know today spend an awful lot of time making sure their kids don’t ever do anything dangerous and then complain when they sit inside and play on computers...........   If we are awake and not at work or school you can probably locate every member of our family outdoors. Except our dog, he loves the AC. 

Our parenting plan includes allowing our son to do dangerous things carefully so that we are sure we are raising a critical thinker that knows how to evaluate and adjust for risk. This philosophy seems to be paying off with an independent thoughtful soon to be second grader. However, sometimes a parent does have to step in and set some ground rules.



Last photo before the “no roof stunts” family rule began. 



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