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.