Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Budding Talent

Spending most of the winter indoors or exploring mountains of ice cold snow makes us especially anxious to get back to the playgrounds. We watched for daily signs of snow melting. One park actually had piles of plowed snow directly in front of it teasing us even as the weather started breaking 50 degrees.

But now it's all clear and we're back to the park routine. Every night we ask Harper what she wants to do tomorrow and she almost always answers "go to the park" her full answer is usually "go to the park with papa" but I digress.

The best thing about getting back to the park is testing our skills. Feeling out the slides again and sharpening our dormant park skills. It's also a chance for us to see if the inch or so we've grown since the last park trip helped us conquer a new skill. This year Harper is able to climb up to the platform to the big slide with ease. At the end of the last park season she was doing it but it was hard and after a while she couldn't muster the strength to pull herself up and she needed a boost. This year, she's up without difficulty and doesn't even hesitate before sliding down the slide. She's getting so brave!

But the big accomplishment came with the "Lilly pads." The are a series of yellow plastic stepping stones that you can walk across. They take balance and confidence. Harper has always enjoyed them but always asked for a hand. With a little coaxing our girl gave it a go solo. And boy did she do good. She felt good too. That smile across her face was priceless. The kind that warms our heart from the inside out. Nothing like the pride of accomplishing a new skill.

First trike peddling and now this. I think this is going to be a summer to remember!





No comments: