White Water fun

As usual, we are spending quite a bit of time at White Water this year.  We have been going about once a week with friends each time.  We always pack a picnic for the most part.  This year, however, we have made a big step towards giving the kids more freedom. We always park our stuff at one of the sections that has a bunch of water slides. Late last year, we started letting the kids go ride the slides without us (the parents) as long as they stayed together with their brother/sister or friend and checked in every few minutes.  Well this year, we have made the jump to letting them go ride any ride as a group without the Moms and we are able to sit and read a book, people watch, or just talk.  I really didn't think the day would ever come, but it has snuck up on me quite quickly.  I must admit it is very weird to be walking around the park with the boys and run into the girls. Or be going somewhere and "run into" my kids.  There are still strict rules but after talking about it with Dana and Tina, we felt that all the kids were ready for this little step of independence.  They are learning to do things without constant parental supervision but we are still close by and we hear about anything that might go wrong.  We are also taking the other's children a lot more this year.  Because the kids are getting bigger and easier to handle, it is not really a big deal.  They are all great swimmers, have all done ALL of the rides at White Water many times, would know there way around the park blind-folded, and feel very comfortable there, we thought this would be a good first step to independence.  But I have to tell you the truth-it seems really weird that they are somewhere without me at times.  However, it is really nice at times too.  I guess that is just part of life.