PARENTING March 8, 2004 Issue

Growing pains?

By Barbara Weigt

It was my first time alone in London with daughters, Michelle, aged 11, and Heather, who was 12. We were heading for the suburbs to visit a family friend, who would be waiting for us at her local Underground station.

A train hurtled into our station in the city and rumbled to a stop. As we squeezed into a crowded compartment, I lost my grip on Heather's hand. And before we could reconnect, the doors had closed in front of her, stranding her on the platform.

I called out, "Take the next train, and get off at the next station. We'll wait there." But my voice was lost in the roar of our departure. One distraught mother—me—was pulling away from one distraught daughter—Heather—who had nothing to cling to but a teddy bear that wouldn't fit into her backpack.