My little guy popped up out of the bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning. As in, one second his eyes were completely closed and he was asleep, and the next he was sitting up and telling me his story.
“So I conquered one of my greatest fears…..I slid down the fireman pole.”
Sometimes I feel like I’ve walked in midway through a conversation he’s been having with me before I arrived. Fireman pole? He’d been having some kind of dream was all I could figure. He continued on while I was trying to place what he was talking about.
“Wait, buddy, when was this? Did you dream it?”
He blew out an exasperated breath.
“No ma’am, see it was on the fireman pole. Last night.”
Ummm? Oh. Yes. The playground.
Last night was the last time for swim practice out in the open air. They are putting up the bubble to keep the swimmers a little warmer as the chilly air is going to hit us this weekend. The pool where our Princess practices is at a park with a really nice playground. Cooter likes to go over and play, but I am very overprotective about keeping an eye on him and telling him he can only go so far and never out of my sight. Since it was a nice evening and the playground wasn’t crowded and it was the last night, I let him go over and play.
“Okay, the playground. I gotcha. Go ahead.”
“Well, see I faced my fear. I went down the fireman pole for the first time, and I did it better than another boy who had been going down it over and over.” I nodded. “It was because he holds on too tight. I let go a little bit, and that makes it work just right.”
Well.
I guess it does.
Another life lesson out of the mouths of babes.
When we hold on too tight, it’s really hard for things to work just right. For us to move in the right direction.
Yep.
Tonight I’m thankful for bright and cheery faces full of stories to share, even if it is first thing in the morning. I’m thankful for the bravery of this one who faced his fears, all by himself. And I give thanks for that smile. The smile so full of joy over succeeding. He’s learned something very important–the first step to any and every success is trying. You can’t move anywhere–even down a fireman pole–if you don’t climb up there and take that first step. Tonight I’m proud of my little guy’s 374th first step. And that he wanted to share it with me? Priceless.
Off to think about what first step I need to take–what I need to let go of just enough so I can move…..you?
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 