I fucking hate insurance companies. All kinds of insurance companies. Our homeowners insurance is requiring us to get rid of our trampoline.
I get it. Trampolines are dangerous. They're really fucking dangerous. And we've certainly had our fair share of accidents here (luckily none too serious). But here's the thing. EVERYFUCKINGTHINGISDANGEROUS. Can we really save ourselves from our own stupidity? Why would we want to? isn't that robbing the natural selection process?
Ok. all that aside. The trampoline has been a HUGE part of Esther and Asa's childhood. They practically live out there. They have all their make believe games out there. They snuggle and wrestle and laugh and fight out there. Entire universes are concieved there. The first time Asa ever laughed it was watching Ben jump on the trampoline.
I know children are resilient. I know that this is not one of the basic needs. I know that they will probably get over it just fine and that they will not be the worse for wear over it. But I feel like I am being forced to take away a symbol of their childhood. I am focing them to grow up. And I feel utterly hopeless to fight this in any way.
We draw on the trampoline with sidewalk chalk (because there are no sidewalks here). We sleep out there. We bond as a family on that damn thing. We watch the leaves fall off the trees and look up at the stars. We have dance parties and go out there to have serious talks about life.
My heart is breaking. I don't know how to break it to Esther and Asa. I don't know how to make it any easier or better. I don't know how to explain that the rules of the entire fucking world are basically based out of fear.
I know there are lots of cool things you can do with old trampolines. I know that we can probably build them a fort or a massive swing out of it. I know that this is not the end of the world. I know that they probably won't even blame me too much. But this feels huge.
Esther is eleven and has a boyfriend. Arguably her first "serious" (as serious as one can be at eleven) boyfriend. And we're getting a puppy next week. Both things that make me feel like their childhood is flashing by far too quickly. But then this thrown in the mix. Fucking ridiculous. I'm not ready to say goodbye to my little babies. I'm not ready to move on from this stage in our family's evolution.
Asa learned to do front flips all by himself. Last year he said to me he wanted to learn to do a backflip and in less than 30 minutes after about 10 minutes of my coaching, he got it. It was so cool to watch him work that skill. I love being out there with them.
