Conquering Your Slides
There’s not many indoor playgrounds in the greater Sandpoint metropolitan area (population 7,000). So, last week we loaded up our horse and buggy and made the 90 minute trek to the Spokane Valley Mall so our son, Judah (19 months) could play on one. Actually, I needed shoes and after looking at the two places here in Sandpoint we decided to go to a mall with a better selection–the playground was an added perk!
We had been there a few months earlier and Judah really enjoyed playing. They have the soft floor and the soft play equipment so kids can run around unhindered and crash into anything they want. There’s a slide that is kind of steep that Judah was too afraid to go down the last time without us holding his hand.
It was a great day overall. Except there was one mother who was one of “those” moms. You know the kind where they ask you a bunch of questions about your kid just so they could brag about theirs. Her kid might be potty trained already, but, my kids will have the distinct advantage of not having her as a mother!
Psycho competitive moms aside, I was really proud of him for conquering that slide. I know it’s a very small feat in the grand scheme of life but there’s just something about watching my son learn to overcome obstacles that makes me smile. He might not be the greatest athlete, or the smartest person in the world, but so long as he tries to overcome the things that give him trouble he’ll be more than successful.
It challenges me to not be discouraged about the things that are out of my control and to just focus on tackling the little things each day. After all, a lot of little things add up to big things! What are some of the little things that need conquering in your life? Maybe it’s not snacking before bed, or putting your shoes away before your wife gets mad. Or maybe it’s just taking time out of your day to forget about work, bills, or any other source of stress and spending some quality time with your kids. Whatever it may be, climb up that ladder and slide down!
