So all of a sudden I have become a little peripheral this summer. I am still necessary to take the kids to the pool but I am not the prime pool toy anymore. While in some ways I enjoy this - this is the first summer that my kids are proficient enough swimmers that I can read a book by the edge of the pool. I look at my son and think - holy crap who is this kid? What happened to my little boy who didn't want to be more than 6 inches from me in the pool......
He is playing with the big boys now. And only circling mommy every once in a while on his way to another game or the diving board or food. It is hard to see my kids grow up, to see them become more self-sufficient, to need and want me less. But that is the point isn't it? Raising a child is such an awesome responsibility - I am trying to make it possible that the people I love most in the world will be perfectly capable without me.
So far there are only glimmers - dressing and bathing proficiency, simple meals and snacks, a persistent attitude. But with each year they lean on me less and less and discover themselves more. Develop and hone the qualities that will enable them to thrive without me.
Persistence being one of those qualities. Little Hannah used to shy from anything that was hard - much preferring to be treated like the princess she is and have someone else do it. But today she decided she was going to do a front flip off the diving board. She must have gone off that board over 50 times and by the end her little back was beet red because the closer she got to the full flip the more it hurt when she flopped. It is scary to see my children expanding their horizons, ranging further afield from the safety of the mommy circle but it is also exciting to see the qualities Jeff and I have been nurturing for so long starting to bloom.
So all of a sudden I have become a little peripheral this summer. I am still necessary to take the kids to the pool but I am not the prime pool toy anymore. While in some ways I enjoy this - this is the first summer that my kids are proficient enough swimmers that I can read a book by the edge of the pool. I look at my son and think - holy crap who is this kid? What happened to my little boy who didn't want to be more than 6 inches from me in the pool......
He is playing with the big boys now. And only circling mommy every once in a while on his way to another game or the diving board or food. It is hard to see my kids grow up, to see them become more self-sufficient, to need and want me less. But that is the point isn't it? Raising a child is such an awesome responsibility - I am trying to make it possible that the people I love most in the world will be perfectly capable without me.
So far there are only glimmers - dressing and bathing proficiency, simple meals and snacks, a persistent attitude. But with each year they lean on me less and less and discover themselves more. Develop and hone the qualities that will enable them to thrive without me.
Persistence being one of those qualities. Little Hannah used to shy from anything that was hard - much preferring to be treated like the princess she is and have someone else do it. But today she decided she was going to do a front flip off the diving board. She must have gone off that board over 50 times and by the end her little back was beet red because the closer she got to the full flip the more it hurt when she flopped. It is scary to see my children expanding their horizons, ranging further afield from the safety of the mommy circle but it is also exciting to see the qualities Jeff and I have been nurturing for so long starting to bloom.
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1 comments:
One of the things I am happiest about is Jeff being part of all the fun. Going to school at night is giving him so much time with you and the kids - I feel sure he has missed it and KNOW they have!
The photos are fabulous, dahlink.
Love
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