I forget how hard it is sometimes

At first as  I was sitting watching Lanie crawl across the playground by our house, I didn't think anything of it.  She'd get down from the bridge, pull herself up, crawl up the outside and then across over to the curved bar where she'd swing herself out and land on both her feet.  And she did it again and again and again.  Slowly though I realized, she is doing something AMAZING!  Something I'm not sure in her beginning years I ever would have thought she'd be able to do.  She is coordinated, strong, determined, and can climb, jump, and swing.  I'm not sure I ever realized what a beautiful maneuver this play was before.  I am so blessed to have this little one remind me to slow down and appreciate the things we can do with our bodies.  They are beautiful, flexible machines that we get to use.

And then I watched at swimming lessons.  We decided to do privates for the first time for her rather than group lessons because she has most of her skills and is a fish in the water, and now its time for the difficult front crawl with breathing to the side, back crawls, and tread water.  I hired a high school boy who was an acquaintance but he did not know Lanie.  I think its safe to say though, she has quickly won his heart.  He has done an amazing job with her, breaking down every stroke and celebrating her every little success. She loves going to swimming lessons.

As I watched at lessons though, I had one of those moments where I just knew, this is SO hard for her.  Remembering what order all the different steps go in and getting her body to do just what its supposed to do.   I know it will come, I just watch my brave little girl continue trying again and again and get to learn from her to never give up.  I'm the one who has to be patient and wait for her to turn to me like she did on the playground above, and say "Mommy!  I did it!"