As my children started to toddle and understand what I was talking about I taught them about strangers. Initially only one child fell into this category and I was advised by books written by experts, and well meaning friends not to frighten him. They told me I didn’t want to scare him to the extent that he dared not venture through the garden gate. This was sound advice when I was dealing with just one child, when all four were at the age where they could fully understand my admonitions not to go anywhere with anyone they did not know I began to feel differently. For some reason their different personalities spawned invincibility, even at two they did not believe anything bad could happen to them.
I felt I really had to strike terror into their souls so that they would not wish to venture out alone no matter the lure. Now that we are in the cyber age if they are cautious about venturing outside alone they can be caught inside on the web and by the television that friendly, innocuous, stranger who dwells amongst us and whom every parent welcomes with open arms.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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