When Confidence Outruns Common Sense

Some parents worry when their kids are loud. I worry when mine goes quiet and suddenly thinks he is in charge of traffic.

Some days I feel like I am barely keeping up.

Anyone who has spent time with young children knows the drill. You blink and they are into something. Fingers near outlets. Feet near roads. Chaos with snacks. Constant vigilance. Noah is no different. Possibly more creative.

When things get quiet, I get nervous. Silence is never a good sign. It usually means Noah is busy doing something he absolutely should not be doing.

The other morning I was heading home to get Noah on the bus after dropping off two of his sisters at school. As we turned into the neighborhood, his bus was already parked in front of a house. This is normal when they are early. Noah noticed immediately.

Before I could process the situation, Noah opened the car door and leaned halfway out. Whether he was trying to wave or jump is still unclear. I had forgotten to turn the child safety lock back on after the girls got out. Rookie mistake.

We pulled up to the pickup spot and Noah launched himself out of the car and ran straight into the middle of the court. Arms waving. Full confidence. He began directing the bus like a professional traffic cop who had absolutely no training.

The bus driver stopped. I dragged Noah out of the road. Noah was not pleased. He was convinced this was his job now and he was not leaving.

We have talked about road safety. A lot. At school and at home. He knows the rules. Whether he does not care or truly does not understand the danger, I am not sure. What I do know is that this is not something I want him learning through experience.

After my emotional breakdown with this child, I went to work telling myself he was now at school where he follows directions.

Or at least different directions.

I know I am not alone in this. If you have a story that still makes your heart race or laugh later, share it in the comments. I would love to hear what your kids have done and how you handled it. Please share this on Facebook so other parents know they are not alone.