Parenthood and a boy in a balloon
Who knows whether the balloon boy story that captivated the nation yesterday was a cruel hoax. I'm glad there was no boy the age of my son hurtling across the skies of Colorado in a homemade balloon after all, and that he was safe in his attic the entire time.
Still, something about the story haunts me.
The thing is, one day my little boy is going to get in a helium balloon. He's going to climb in on purpose, pull up the tether, and fly away.
I might even be on the ground, powerless to stop him, calling him back. And he'll probably look at me coolly with those deep blue eyes, uttering not a sound in reply.
In other words, one day or another, he's going to leave me. He's going to fly away. I probably won't think he's ready. I'll probably be worried sick.
I'll probably roam the ground underneath, trying, absurdly, to catch him if he falls. Trying to find him a soft place to land.
It'll be the wrong thing for me to do when it happens, probably. I'll have to trust the wind that takes him, and hope that his father and I have taught him how to have an adventure the right way.
I'll be powerless. I'll be frantic. I'll hope against hope.
One difference? Nobody will be watching the drama of this balloon boy but my family.
They'll be too busy trying to catch their own.
(Associated Press photo)
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
Here's the deal. All boys want to get into a homemade balloon and fly away. The solution to mother-anxiety about this is simple. DON'T have a giant homemade balloon in the yard.
Now, let your anxiety fly away and have an 80's balloon dance party!
Posted by: Owl Meat GravityDefiler | October 16, 2009 10:37 AM
There's a sucker born every minute. I bet my life savings that this con job. Don't be a maroon. Everybody gets played like a chump every once in a while. Did you read Richard Heene's background? The man is a wackadoo. And the Sheriff Dept. doesn't want to admit they got played because their hayseeds too. I put the odds at 100 to 1 it's a con, solely based on what that kid said on Larry King and his background. Any takers? Lay out the cash it's a 100 to 1 odds. If I lose you'll make a killing!
(Seriously, Colorado social services should investigate solely for the kids sake, this man is mentally ill.)
Posted by: Steve Real | October 16, 2009 11:36 AM
The balloon boy story would not have gotten so much publicity if a few of those news reporters had bothered to watch that myth-busters episode about how many helium balloons it takes to lift one small child (thousands)
Posted by: Sam Kaufman | October 17, 2009 2:16 AM
Steve Real, there are indeed reports that social services is investigating this family.
I imagine this is not the outcome they intended when they planned this stunt, if that is what it is.
Posted by: Dahlink | October 17, 2009 7:51 AM
Just keep having mixed feelings about the whole story. In one way, it's just a fantastic story, the stuff of dreams and books. But, then the nagging side of it. The possibility of tragedy is so real. The kid is me says "Wow!", the parent in me says "Oh my God....."
Posted by: ruth | October 17, 2009 10:00 AM
Now that it is clear that this was a hoax, I find it very telling that the 6-year-old vomited twice while being interviewed on camera. Does anything speak more forcefully to his discomfort with the situation than that?
Posted by: Dahlink | October 19, 2009 4:36 PM