Friday, August 15, 2008

I missed a chance to brag

I was going to blog about this weeks ago, I can't believe I forgot! I. started going off the diving board at our local pool this summer, and after a few weeks she had gone off the high dive. She is following in her brother's foot steps, he conquered the high dive the summer between Kindergarten and First grade as well. I can be a helicopter mom at times, so as hard as it is to let go I am actually relieved that they both have the nerve to go off the high dive. Perhaps I am balancing freedom and protection better than I thought.
A funny angle on the whole thing: The first time I. tried to go off the high dive, she got nervous and came back down the ladder. I decided to be a good example and show her that she could do it, so I scaled the stairs to the top. I thought I could conquer my nerves and just do it until it was time to let go of the railing and inch my way to the end of the board. Yes, I said INCH my way forward. I hadn't been off a high dive in probably 20 years, and I was never fearless about it. I realized my kids and many others waiting their turn were all watching and my legs turned to jello. Literally, my knees were knocking. I haven't felt that scared --no, phobic-- in a long, long time. In the end I was able to overcome and go for it. OK, more like hold my nose and scream as I barely shuffled off the end reluctantly. I just knew I had to do it for my daughter.
Well, it worked -- the next time we were at the pool she just climbed right up the ladder and went off like it was no big deal.
Phew.

3 comments:

Mary Beth said...

I went off the high dive when we had the church party out there. It is a good thing I had a 1-piece on, because I could have had a wardrobe malfunction otherwise. Grant loves to go off the high dive, too, but I can't get Josh-mosh to try on the little one by himself. Cute posting, I wished I would have seen you go off. I would have cheered you on :)

mamashine said...

G finally went off the little one by herself a few weeks ago. She'll be so impressed to hear that Isabel went off the high one!

she said...

Wow, sorry I missed that. A couple of years ago, I jumped off the top of one of those boats with the roof on them... can't think of the real name. We always called them party barges... anyways, it was a lot further than I thought. Once was enough.