The Giant Rocks of Death

danger [deyn-jer] -noun
1. liability or exposure to harm or injury; risk; peril
2. an instance or cause of peril; menace

Last week, we vacationed in Southwest Harbor, Maine. We spent much of the week swimming, hiking, and kayaking. But the kids didn't enjoy any of these activities quite as much as climbing on the Giant Rocks of Death.

Three of the hiking trails we walked ended up at the Giant Rocks of Death - a long stretch of rocky shoreline that proved irresistable to the kids. If we would have made the Death Rocks off-limits, we surely would have been accused of ruining their vacation, if not their lives. On the other hand, the rocks are just dangerous enough to make a parent feel irresponsible for allowing their children to play on them.

So, as usual, we erred on the side of irresponsibility, and let the kids jump around perilously on the rocky shore. They couldn't have been happier.

In the end, we walked away from the Giant Rocks of Death relatively unscathed -- Phoebe took a spill on the path on the way to the rocks, but other than that, there were no injuries to speak of.

Maybe next time, we should let them jump around the rocks on pogo sticks. Or roller skates.

(left: Ben asks "Am I making you nervous, Mom and Dad? How about now?")