Amelia loves the park, always has. She does not, however, care for the slide. She used to at least try the slides, and even with some enthusiasm. But for the past year or so there has been zero slide activity, flat out refusal. Could have something to do with another toddler giving her some "assistance" early on in her park visiting career, or maybe it was a slide that was a bit too fast and scary. Either way, no slides.
Until now.
Since the weather broke, we've been visiting the local parks quite frequently after a long winter hiatus. I thought maybe now that she's a little bigger, older, and wiser, she perhaps would have forgotten about her fear. Nope. She didn't forget. But at least now she is able to verbalize her fear...turns out it's just "too scary." No problem. I didn't push it.
A few days ago, Amelia and I ventured out after dropping Ford off at school. I gave her a choice...we could either visit the horse barn (at MSU) or we could go to the park. She chose horse barn. As we drove along, she announced that she would rather go to the park. Okay. A few quiet minutes passed and I watched her from the rear-view mirror as she stared out of her window. Out of the blue, with no mention of what we might do at the park from me, she announced calmly and confidently, "I am going to go on the slides today."
I smiled..."You ARE??" She smiled back kicking her feet up and down pridefully, "Yup!"
We got to the park and we headed straight for the little slide. Up the steps and right down, without hesitation, I was at the bottom to catch her of course. I clapped and cheered, told her I was so proud of her. She beamed. "I'm going to do it again! And I'm going to tell Dad when he gets home. But step back, Mom, I don't want you to catch me."
Well, okay. I stepped back, as she requested. She flew down the shiny metal slide, but this time a little quicker and she landed in the wood chips, on her butt and then fell back a little, hitting her head on the edge of the slide. She held it in for a minute but the waterworks started. Bummer. This could be the end of it for another long while...no more slides. But I was wrong. She wiped her tears and with a little encouragement, got back up there and went down again and again.
I was so proud of her. It may seem like a small thing, going down a slide, but to her it was a pretty huge fear. I was mostly proud that she came to the decision all on her own. That she carefully and thoughtfully decided, before even reaching the park, that that sunny warm day would be the day.
It was a first for me..watching her tackle an obstacle like that and it warmed my heart in a new way. I love when that happens. Way to go, Amelia!
