The Parking Lot Moment That Changed Everything I Thought I Knew About Raising Kids.

We had just come off the mountain after a long day of skiing. Legs smoked. Everyone ready to get home. And my youngest, Tyler, spotted it in the parking lot. A half-frozen puddle of mud and slush so gnarly it looked like it had its own ecosystem. His face lit up. He started running straight for it with the delight of a dog chasing a tennis ball. My default parent mode kicked in immediately. I…