Enjoying the eclipse, making memories

By: 
Monika Spaulding, Digital Editor

My husband and I are raising our children to always go for the experience. Whatever it is, go for it! After all, you only live once, right?

I know there were a lot of people who were concerned about their children viewing the eclipse Monday afternoon. But honestly, I never even questioned it. Maybe that makes me a bad parent? But when the school said the glasses had been donated by a pharmacist, who happens to be our state rep, I didn’t think twice. He’s not going to give our kids faulty glasses.

I also loved that Dr. Carol Hickey from Vision First came out and said it was up to the parent, like any other decision. Can your child handle keeping the glasses on and looking at the sun? If so, let them do it! If not, don’t sign the permission slip. Every experience in life comes with a risk. You know your child best.

My husband and I talked with our girls about it and they said they were talking about the dangers at school, how to look through the glasses, etc. That was it. We trusted our kids and we trusted the school and I am so glad we did! What an experience! And they made the best memories with their friends. They will never forget watching the eclipse.

I actually went to the school to take video and a few pictures for the paper and stopped by my daughter’s class. To hear their little voices and the excitement of seeing the moon cross the sun was so fun! Their excitement is contagious! And the teachers were wonderful!

Even our four year old got to see it with the help of her eclipse glasses and daddy by her side. It was a fun day for our family, both at home and at school.

I enjoyed seeing everyone’s posts about the event on Facebook and look forward to reading Kate’s story in an upcoming paper about various readers’ experiences.

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