I apologize

It's always interesting and a little scary to hear the things that go through my children's minds. Overheard this morning in the bathroom:

Child: (From the toilet, where she does her best thinking) Daddy, can you come in here? I have a quick question.
Daddy: What?
Child: Well, I was just wondering, why is it that big people get to boss little people around, and you know, tell them what to do?
Daddy: Hmm, it's not really that big people get to tell little people what to do, exactly. But I'm your dad and it's my job to take care of you until you're old enough to make your own decisions.
Child: Well, if this country's about freedom, that just don't really seem fair!
Daddy: Tell you what, when you're 18 you can have all the freedom you want.
Child: It just don't seem fair. That's all I'm saying.

Yes, dear child, it's totally unfair that you have two parents who care where you go and what you do, who you hang out with and whether you come home at night. After reading about the Stuebenville rape case in the news this week, my husband has decided that his girls will never be attending a party of any kind. I guess he thinks these cute little outgoing things are going to stay shut up in their bedrooms until they are old enough to get married (which is never, as far as he's concerned.)
I choose to take a slightly different approach, which is to remind you three that I know everybody. My mom used to tell me that every time I left home. She was a hairdresser, and in our small community that was pretty much true. She knew at least one person in every room I ever walked into, and she didn't even have Facebook to help her out!
So I'm going to issue a pre-apology. I apologize for every time that your dad and I will embarrass you in the future. I apologize for every time you will be called a prude, or a party pooper, or a goody two shoes. I apologize for wanting to keep you safe, to preserve your innocence for as long as possible, and for letting you just be a little girl. I apologize for pushing you to be the best at whatever you decide to do, and for reminding you constantly that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to if you work hard enough. Oh wait - no I don't.