Arresting Development

As I was working with Jordan on some of his Boy Scout rank advancements, I realized that I have become that parent I made fun of many years ago. Parts of the conversation went like this:

Me: What is the first ‘R’ of personal safety?

Jordan: Recognize.

Me: Recognize what?

Jordan: Recognize that any one could be a child molester.

I did not read the Scout Handbook before hand. I didn’t know that the three Rs of personal safety dealt with child molestation.

Me: Do you know what “molest” means?

Jordan: No.

Me: It means to harass or bother or assault.

Jordan: So a child molester bothers children?

Me: You could say that.

I will end the re-cap right there. I couldn’t do it. I know that shortly Jordan will be joining a deacons’ quorum and that nearly every month there will be a lesson on chastity or purity or modesty or some such thing. I know that he is fast approaching the point when far worse will be explained in biology classes. But I still couldn’t bring myself to speed up the maturation process. I really like the idea of Jordan being very interested in video games, juvenile literature and things that explode. I like the fact that when camping with other 11 year-old scouts, they spend their time discussing “blue darts,” the best soda pop for belching, and roasting Starbursts.

It’s like the time Julie & I borrowed a book for children on where babies come from. I went to read the book and found it in Jordan’s room.

Me: Oh, did you read this already?

Jordan: Yes.

Me: Do you have any questions?

Jordan: No.

Then I read the book to see what he might have learned. I was relieved that the target audience was seven year olds.

Yes – I have become that parent.