Self Talk

Yesterday we met some friends at the park.  Emily followed a friend and started climbing up a rope ladder of sorts.  She was pretty nervous starting out and asked me to come close.  I went over and stood right there but let her do all the work. After a few runs she was growing in confidence.  I told her once she climbed to the top again, “Emily I’m really proud that you did something that was hard and scary.” She looked at me and said matter of factly, “It’s not scary. It’s fun.” and took off to run down the “tiny stairs” and climb up again.

Later she followed another friend over to the really big ladder.  It is so tall that I can barely reach the top while standing on my tip toes.  I was not thrilled about her climbing that high, especially because I had Nathan in the ergo on my front and there was no way I could really help her, but I’m all about her expanding our comfort zones.  The first few climbs up the ladder were slow and uncoordinated. Her head got stuck a few times because she leaned too far forward.  When she reached the top however, she turned around and exuded confidence, excitement, and serious satisfaction and said, “I did it!” She tried to give me a high five while we were seven feet apart and almost went over the edge.  She settled for a thumbs up, which I have never seen her do before and just about melted me to the ground with her glowing smile.

After a few climbs up the ladder I moved further and further away and she got higher and higher before calling, “Mom, come close.” As I was approaching I heard her chanting to herself, “I am. amazing. I am. amazing.”  I hope she always says that to herself.  I hope I can remember to say that to myself, too.

Emily wanted Dad to touch the ceiling last night and somehow it ended like this: