Monday, July 23, 2012

Taking Risks


Last week as Reece climbed a large rock at the Brick Works Farmers Market, I sat back and enjoyed his ability to take a risk. I watched as he carefully and cautiously climbed up the rock. I smiled when he looked back at me from the top of the rock with a huge smile, eyes sparkling and a big “I did it!”


Taking risks is part of life. And yes there was the potential that Reece’s little rock climbing adventure could have turned out differently. But I chose to enjoy the moment. I chose not to let my nervousness cloud his judgement. I chose to relax and let him make his own way. I chose to enjoy the moment.

And if the moment had turned out differently I would have offered my hand to help my little man up. I would have held him, maybe nursed him, and I would have told him how proud I was that he took the risk and tried.  And then I would have asked if he wanted my help to try again.


Taking risks, pushing our limits, walking our edge is important in life. If Reece is to learn, grow and change he needs to see how far he can go. And yes, sometimes he will fail. But when he does, he will get back up, on his own or with a helping hand.  This lesson is important. He needs to know that failure is an option. He needs to know it is okay to take a risk and fail. These are not easy lessons for him and certainly not easy lessons for this mama to watch, but if he never experiences these moments, these failures, how on earth will he learn to get back up and try again...


I will be there every step of the way, watching with pride as he accomplishes the next challenge he takes or lending a hand, a hug and a shoulder to cry on when he needs to release the emotions of failing. And I will certainly be there when he tries again, because my little man, this amazing creature who teaches me something each and every day, will try again. He will succeed; it just might take a few tries.


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Linking up with Small Town Simplicity for Mindful Mothering Monday's


13 comments:

  1. Well said Kim. Heather at Shivaya Naturals just wrote a similar post to this. It's so amazing how much we learn or re-learn through our children!

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    1. Thanks KC! They are amazing little teachers if we are open to learning from them :)

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  2. Amen! I enjoyed your post and was so happy for the little man who has such a smart mother!
    As a KG teacher I struggle all the time trying to convince my parents that this is exactly what the children need, learning by trying and sometimes risking a bit! To see the self esteem growing in a child that "did it" on himself without our help is the sweet reward!

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  3. I love this. I fear that, in shielding our children from possible failure, we inhibit their abilities to dust themselves off and try, try again. Beautiful thoughts here! Thanks for linking up!

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    1. Thanks Lydia. I always try to remind myself that the only way he learns to get back up and try again is by falling down. It's hard, but true.

      Thanks for hosting such a lovely link up :)

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  4. This is beautiful, and I love that you let your little one take such a great risk, and enjoy the moment in how that felt. My oldest is getting to an age where the risks are getting bigger, and I have to hold my breath, and my tongue sometimes, in the hopes of letting him expand his risk taking capabilities. It is hard, but oh so worth it.

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    1. Thank you Heather. And don't think these wasn't any tongue holding here. I could here myself saying "be careful", "watch your step", etc. It wasn't easy sitting there, being quiet and stepping back, it never is, but like you said the rewards are so worth it.

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  5. Kim, this is a sweet post and rings true on many levels. Steve and I were just talking about this last night.

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  6. It can be so hard to let go when all you want to do is protect them. But at the same time, it's such an amazing thing to watch unfold. Beautiful post!

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  7. Such a great post - watching them take risks and challenge themselves is SO HARD. Hope you're have a great week.

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    1. Thanks Gretchen, and you are so right, so very hard...but so worth it :)

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