Come on baby, light my fire (literally)

Today, Gaius and I headed out to Orsay to attend a playdate at the home of one of the Message Paris parents in our area.  The kids played, made a craft, and overall had a fun time.  At the playdate, the kids were allowed to handle all of the items below except for one.  Can you guess which one?

 crafting supplies: tea light, scissors, push pins, matches (cigarette not included)

As I watched Gaius and Ayoub striking matches to light the little tealights, I wondered if I would ever see something like this in America.  Three and five year old kids just don't get the opportunity to light matches back at  home.  Was it the safest situation?  Not 100%.  Did someone get hurt?  Actually, yes, but not seriously.  Now they both have a proper respect for matches!

When we were in Denmark, Gilles taught Gaius how to start a fire in the fireplace.  Every step, from gathering the wood, to crumpling up the newspaper, to lighting the fire.  In fact, Gaius started a fire from scratch one day when we should have been watching but were not.

How often do I think "he's too young" or "that's not safe" when actually that's not the case at all?  Am I guilty of being a hovering helicopter parent?

I've eased up a bit since we moved to France.  It's like the 1970's here.  I see elementary school aged kids walking to and from school without an adult present.  Kids get to ride their bikes through the town.  I see little kids riding scooters on the sidewalks and streets of Paris.  Gaius is one of them!   I'm not saying that things are better or worse here.  Just different.

I've been reading about these "Classe Verte" overnight discovery trips that kids often take in preschool (and the older kids do too).  Did you know that preschool aged children take class trips lasting several days (and nights) with no parental contact whatsoever?  Overnight trips with no phone calls home.  No emails, no nothing.  You drop off your 3, 4 or 5 year old and see them four days later.  At first I was horrified.  Now, not so much.  If we are here when this trip rolls around, I might just sign Gaius up.

Vive la différence!

à bientôt!