Hi Shira,
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| Dogface with a hot dog |
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| I love this Hen! |
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| Peaceful slumber in the tent |
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| Now they're going to call ME Frizz |
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| Love these waves |
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| I'm Cute! |
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| Don't skid your nose on the pavement! |
The title of this
post might remind some readers of a short story of the same name. It was something I was required to read in a
literature class. The main character
was bored at a party and decided to ‘swim’
home. Except not in a body of water
connecting him with his home. He
decided to dip in each backyard pool he could find along the way. That is not your story.
Your summer has been
dominated so far by swimming lessons.
The first day your instructors thought that you were a level 3 because
you are so soft spoken and shy. The second day they passed you on to level
4.
Those first two days
were quite trying because you cried nearly the whole time you were in the
water. The water is pretty cool in that
pool and that was one of your complaints but you were also resisting the
challenge of learning to swim better.
On the second day I asked you to get through the day without
crying. The teachers and I had been telling
you to keep moving to stay warm but you hadn’t taken that advice. So, that second day when I asked you to just
get through the lesson without crying, you cried within one minute of getting
in the water.
On the third day
something unexpected helped you to get off to a good start. I think there was some friction between you and
the teacher. I don’t know why, I don’t
think she was mean or insensitive but you two were not connecting. On the third morning she didn’t teach your
class and you had someone new. Somehow
that got you going and you smiled the whole class and did much better. I had told the supervisor that I thought I
would get you out of the water after 30 minutes because you just couldn’t
function after you decided you were cold.
But, I didn’t have to do that.
On the fourth day we
had two incentives for you. One was
that your Uncle Ben was there to watch and the other was a thermos with hot
cocoa to warm you up at the end of the lesson.
And afterward we got to treat Uncle Ben to a trip to the famous Joe’s
Donuts. By then you were on a
roll. You were putting your face in the
water and doing great motorboats.
The following week
you got moved up to level 5. That was
cool because on the day of the bike derby you and Sidra were in the same class
for a while. She was just there for the
day and they moved her over to level 6 but you were in the same class with big
sis who is 3 years older!
The bottom line is
that you have grown as a swimmer and a student. The difference between your
first lesson and your last one is incredible.
I am very proud that you stuck with something that you weren’t sure you
wanted to do and made something positive out of it.
I mentioned the bike
derby. I think this is your second bike
derby, maybe the third. I know that it
is the second time that you have ridden a pedal bike. This year about half of the 4 year olds like you were riding
without training wheels and about half were using them. There were so many 4 year olds this year
there were about 3 heats. You were a
strong second in your heat. You and a
boy were far ahead of the field. You
had a slower start than him and a flying finish.
We just returned
from a camping trip to a spot near the beach.
You and Sidra had great time playing in the surf. I don’t know how you guys stand that cold
water of the Pacific Ocean. It must be
a kid thing because I remember attacking it with the same exuberance when I was
growing up.
The camping spot
also had a nice network of bike trails.
You enjoyed them but had one really scary pile up. There was one significant hill that was hard
for you to pedal up on either side. We
were almost back to camp and I’d waited with you while you pushed your bike up
to the top. You climbed back on to go
down and then a combination of inexperience, speed and panic brought you to
ruin. You started pedaling really hard
and I shouted for you to slow down. You
slammed on the brakes, broke into a skid, and ended up going face down onto the
pavement. I really expected to see a broken
nose when I got to you but I think your helmet took just enough of the blow to
save you from a worse injury.
Something I really
like about you unfolded next. Through
your tears you said you didn’t think you should ride the rest of the way back
to camp. But a few minutes later but before
you stopped crying I said we should get going and you got back on the bike and
finished the ride. While that incident
was your worst of the trip, it wasn’t the only one. You had a couple of minor scrapes on the loop right next to the
campsite. On one of those you got up
and dusted yourself off and went on your way without the intervention of a
parent.
In addition, you
were honing your skills on the bike.
You showed off by rolling by with your feet lifted high off the
pedals. And you began riding in a
standing position with your bum off the saddle. You came back after a lap and said “Dad, I rode all the way
around the loop with my butt off the seat.”
Lately you’ve been
showing some behavior that is probably my fault. By that I mean it’s probably a trait you got from me rather than
your mother. You are pretty content to
play and entertain yourself while alone.
I know that is something second, or middle children are likely to do. I did it a lot when I was growing up. I know that back then I looked for ways to
find my own space to play my own games.
I haven’t noticed you taking it to that extreme yet.
In one of the photos
you are holding a chicken. This
happened at your mom’s Family Fun Fest at the FFA petting zoo. You spent at least an hour over there and
I’m surprised that you didn’t ask us if you could bring it home.
I can't close this without reporting that you recently told me that you need a back rub AND a neck rub every night.
It’s been a good
summer and there’s more to come. I’m
sure there will be more to tell after we’ve visited the east coast
families.
Love, Aba
