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Thursday March 27, 2025 // Mid-Morning
The algorithm got me. I try my best to stay off social media these days, minus some mild Reddit-ing and checking in on my BJJ school on Instagram. But I had a minor relapse and was doing the doom scrolling bit.
I came across a reel of a mom sending her kid (maybe 7 years old) into a Chick-Fil-A to buy food for the family. It was a part of a challenge set forth in the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. A few weeks ago I actually finished my listen of it (s/o to my local library and the Libby App). That algorithm must have known.
I watched the 90-second reel. Felt everything the mom in the video felt. It hurt watching the kid go in unsupervised into a “big world” place. And then seeing the joy on the kid’s face when he came out holding all the food and got the job done like it was no big deal. The kid felt empowered and grown up. The parent left proud and with a full heart.
So little man is 5, almost 6. We’ve recently been trying to brainstorm some around-the-house tasks to do. Not a lot has stuck yet. But after watching the reel I decided we needed to shake it up. Get out of our comfort zones. Start doing out-of-the-house tasks.
I pitched an idea to him after school yesterday – “Hey man. Do you think you can get the mail for us?”
He put down the iPad. “Ahhh I don’t know what to do.”
I showed him where we keep the mail key and found a place where we’ll now keep it so he can reach it. Walked outside and down the street (40ish feet from our house) to the cluster of mailboxes. Had him unlock the mailbox. Grab everything inside then lock it and bring everything back in.
He was grinning from ear-to-ear. This afternoon, I’m going to set him free. He’s going to do it all on his own and I’m going to stay inside while he does it. Then, hopefully, he’ll start doing this on the regular. Which is very much needed because we never check the mail…
I know this seems like such a small thing but right now it feels huge to me (and I think to him too). Parenting is such a trip.
– Josh // Trying to let go
Related Reading: One Last Glance