Today we went to the pool for what I might guess will be my last time this summer . . .
**SIGH**
Calvin jumped off the high dive, even though he was shaking and tears were welling in his trying-to-be-brave eyes. He stood there for a full two minutes (I know because, of course, I video’d the whole thing). I stood pool side, looking up at that high, high dive, trying to offer words of encouragement. “You can do it Calvin, I know you can.” And when he shook his head “no, I don’t want to,” I tried to reassure him that that was okay too.
But in the end he took the leap. He flung himself from that board, landing in a partial belly flop, emerging victorious and in pain; and so proud of himself that he did it. And not particularly interested in doing it again.
I was so proud of him.
He can do hard things. And I want him to learn that about himself when the things he’s doing are hard, but not important. So that when something that’s hard, and also important comes along, he will have the confidence in his own courage to follow through with that as well.
And jumping off the high dive is not important, but it was hard, and it was exciting, and it was a great final chapter to our summer pool adventures.