Well Trained

While we were camping at the Young family reunion, Cowen found some friends who had two kittens and disappeared with them. I did not know about the friends or the kittens. After twenty minutes of searching (after dark, with a flashlight), I was growing a little alarmed. After all, Cowen doesn't wander off by himself. He can be misled by *cough* Miriam, but he won't wander alone. But, since I assumed he'd found friends, I was only moderately alarmed. Still, my relief was great when he reappeared wondering why I was shouting his name all over the creation.

Once I had all my children safely in our tent, I asked Cowen if he had gone in anyone's tents and explained that the same rule applies with tents as applies with houses: absolutely under no circumstances are you allowed in someone's house/tent unless accompanied with your mother. Unless it is a relative mother has pre-approved. The end. No exceptions. It doesn't matter if we go to church with them, or you've played over in their yard a dozen times. No going in houses/tents.

My children know I'm adamant about this but their understanding of "why" is fairly shaky. When they asked why, I explained that in a house/tent, people could do bad things to them without anyone else knowing.

To which Cowen responded: "Bad things? Like try to make us chew gum or something?"

If only that was my biggest fear. I want to live in that world.