We do similar responsibility training with our children. Going to preschool every day is a good chance for us to reinforce those skills. We try to remind them before they leave the house in the morning to make sure they have everything they want (blanket and stuffed animal for nap).

I've been on crutches for a couple of weeks, and the first time I picked my children up from preschool, my oldest asked me very nicely to carry her backpack for her, and I explained that I couldn't because it was hard enough for me to get around on my crutches. And she was mad! She was downright honked off. But in those cases I tell her, "If you choose not to carry it, then it will get left here, and it may or may not be here when you come back to get it later."

I think my biggest fear is not that I won't have gear to take care of my children, it's that the whole, "I'm not listening to you because I'm testing my boundries" issue that happens frequently will happen when an emergency occurs and one of the kids will get hurt because they're not listening.

I'm too young to have gray hair! But I suppose I'd better get some therapy or meditate or something, because I have a feeling those concerns, and even worries will only grow as they get older. <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />