Up, Up, and Away

It's funny how I'm always waiting for the next step to come.  When they were newborns, I couldn't wait until they could coo.  When they cooed, then I thought about rolling.  After rolling, I imagined the days when they would crawl.  Then walking and talking and tying shoes and buckling car seat belts and... there's always that next step right around the corner.  And I'm not sure why I want it to come, because in a large sense it means that they're getting closer to complete independence, that day when they don't need me for anything... but my anticipation never ceases.

When it comes to a physical challenge, Elissa faces it head-on and usually accomplishes it quickly.  The world must seem bigger and a bit more intimidating to Ethan's two-(and-a-half!)-year-old self.  He's coordinated, strong, and very capable, but it takes him longer to realize his abilities.  McKinley has recently shown that she's not going to have a problem keeping up physically with her her siblings, but she does it with such grace and timidity that she just might be the last one to start, and therefore finish.

Flash to our local Chick-fil-A playland.  The steps leading up to the world above with tunnels, rambunctious kids, and the big yellow slide has been a huge waiting time for us as parents.  From what we remember, Elissa was up the steps right around the age of 2.  Ethan and McKinley from their first CFA visit were eager to climb the first step.  And then they just stopped, smiled, and down they came.  For several months now, we've known that they are capable of climbing those steps.  If they can do the first one, then they can turn and do the rest.  The big question was, "What sort of motivator...ummm, make that bribe... is it going to take to get them to finally take the plunge and realize how fun it is up there?"

 About a week ago, we finally found Ethan's weak spot:  ice cream.  He might be "all Jeffries" but finally, there's something I can claim as my influence on his little life!  So up he went, pausing at each step to be bribed on with the promise of ice cream if he went all the way up and came down the big slide.  I thought for sure that once Ethan went, McKinley would follow.  Not so.  She sweetly hung out at the bottom and waited to smile and say hi as Ethan and Elissa did laps up the steps.  Elissa was elated to finally have her brother to play with at CFA.  I even heard her taking care of him at the top as she said something about "hey that's my brother" and led him through the tunnels.

Our next trip happened to be an unexpected lunch with my mom.  After eating, up went Elissa.  Up went Ethan.  And there stood McKinley.  I tried the ice cream bribe... unashamedly.  I just really, really wanted her to be able to enjoy the fun that her siblings were having.  It didn't work. I offered Elissa and Ethan ice cream if they could somehow talk her into going up with them.  It didn't work.  Then, Mom asked me if I'd like a piece of gum and McKinley came running.  Ah ha!  This could be it.  After being promised a piece of gum if she went up the steps, McKinley started up quickly.  Because she's scared of heights, I wasn't surprised that she stopped at the next to last step.  She seemed very unsure of it all, but Elissa and Ethan came to the rescue just in time.  Down the slide she came, and I just happened to have the camera on hand to catch her proud moment.

And again I started thinking... this is one of the crazy parts of parenting.  Those times when I know what my children are capable of doing, and I know how much fun they will have if they just try something new and seemingly difficult to them... And they just can't see it because of their own doubts and fears.  I pray that as they grow, they will trust more and more what Jason and I are telling them.  God has given us these precious years to know them, encourage and challenge them, and be there to catch them when they fall.  May fear not stand in their way of accomplishing all the wonderful things God has in store for them.  And may their trust ultimately lie in Him and His knowledge of who they are, what they can do, and how He wants to see them rise to that next step.