i don't even have a shotgun

From Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamott, given to me by T:

"I'm unclear about the fine line between good parenting and being overly protective. I get stumped by the easy test questions - like whether I should let Sam ride his two-wheeler for several blocks without me when I secretly want to run alongside him like a golden retriever. He wants to walk to a friend's house; I want him to stay inside and draw while I sit on the front porch with a shotgun across my lap like Granny Clampett.

Unfortunately, we have no front porch."