They’ll Jump When They’re Ready

We just got back from a mini vacation in the desert. We LOVE the heat! So bring on the 100+ degree weather. This was a trip full of laughter and celebration. We celebrated another great school year for Isabella and Sophia’s first year in Kindergarten. I had a great Father’s Day with the girls poolside. And my beautiful wife Kristy turned 40.

Sophia is a very cautious little person. She is very methodical and thinks things thru before doing anything. Last summer we made her take swimming lessons. The fact that we have a pool made this a necessity. She ended up loving the lessons and ended up a decent little swimmer for a 5-year old (I was like 9 when I learned). She doggie-paddled, went underwater, and even opened her eyes without goggles. The only thing she refused to do was JUMP IN! I spent all summer trying to coax her to jump in the pool. No luck. Anyhow, we were swimming Sunday night at the resort pool and just out of the blue she jumped in. Then she did it again . and again . . and again . . . and again. Heck by the end of the trip she was doing cannon balls and 360s into the pool.


It made me think about life and how as parents we rush to get our kids from one milestone to the next. When they are babies and start to sit up, we put them on all fours coaxing them across the living room floor. Once they master the art of crawling we practically break out the Air Nikes to get them to walk. Then our little Angels grow up and find “the one”. Next thing we know we are asking questions about the big date. Finally our little one takes the walk down the aisle and we pepper her with questions about starting a family.

This summer I am going to make sure I soak in the small moments with Kristy and the girls. Life is too short and too fast. Why try to speed it up? Besides they’ll jump when they’re ready.

Chocolate Donuts

Yesterday was my “last” day of the school year. B4 work I went to the donut store to get Kristy & the girls a little A.M. treat. They LOVE chocolate donuts with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles (this love for the cocoa must be in their female DNA).

As I was cleaning out my classroom the graduates of 2010 were returning from their Grad Night @ Disneyland. Man did they look exhausted! But w/a few of them I noticed a different look. I saw in their eyes a look of uncertainty and doubt. Because they couldn’t answer this simplest of questions: “What do I do now?”. You see, as many of them spend their day trying to rebel against school, deep down inside they embrace it. High School is the safe cocoon. They have a routine, friends, teachers they know. The real world (especially today) is an intimidating place.

How did this happen? Why so much doubt? Why no idea? Well we can point at many places but we have to begin with . . . MOM and DAD. As parents it is our job (not by duty, but by love) to make sure our sons & daughters are prepared for the challenges and obstacles of life outside of school. How many parents do you know say, “their older now, I can let them make their own decisions” or “they’re almost an adult, I am treating them like one.”

Well here’s a news flash, they are not almost adults. They are still kids. They are still the little girl that lit up your heart at the first grade Christmas Concert. They are the little boy who was beaming after he hit his first t-ball home run. When they were little, you went to every Open House, knew all their friends and teachers by name, and were there to tuck them in every night. Why did you stop when they got to high school? At a time they needed you most, you gave them more freedoms. At a time when the problems were real like sex, drugs, alcohol, ditching classes, peer pressure you hoped that treating them like adults would help them deal with these issues. You could have been there to guide them through the choppy seas of high school.

In my head I see that lone boy walk right by my window. I know who he is. He was in my class two years ago. Nice enough kid, average student. Never caused waves, just did enough to get by. Only reason I remember his name is he transferred from my high school Alma Mater to my current work school. He had the look of doubt and uncertainty. I yelled out the window, “congratulations on graduating, good luck in the future.” He quietly thanked me, put his head down, and shuffled across the quad to his life.

I wonder if he has someone to buy him chocolate donuts . . .