I was so impressed with Jonathan on our recent family camping trip. Jonathan has been and still is a bit tentative when it comes to trying new things. Recently, however, I am seeing his confidence grow, and it’s fun to watch!
One morning I invited him to go out on the pond with me on a paddle boat. I didn’t think he would accept, but he wanted to go. I could tell he was a bit nervous at first, but then he relaxed, and even let me hold him out over the water so he could see the fish below.
Jonathan has a new (spiderman) fishing pole. At home he “practiced” casting by pushing the button and letting weight pull the line out. Then he learned how to move the pole at the same time, getting a bit of distance. On our camping trip, I showed him how to hold the pole, push the button, and then cast at just the right moment. I was amazed at how well he did it and how far he was casting!
Jonathan has always liked race cars and motorcycles, so when he saw the four wheeler, he wanted a ride. He sat in front of me, between my legs, but there wasn’t anything for him to hold onto, as he couldn’t reach the handlebars. I could tell he was a little nervous (it was his first time) so I started out really slow. When I began to go a little faster, or went over a bump, I put my left arm across his chest. I realized that he wasn’t as nervous as I thought, because he started pushing my arm away!
One day we took a walk down toward the reservoir to look at the sheep. We were walking through some pretty thick sagebrush, trying to avoid the thistles, when I saw a small garter snake slithering through the grass. It took me a minute to catch it, but when I did, Jonathan wanted to hold it. He thought it was the coolest thing. He walked around the camp, showing everyone. He was so careful to hold it gently, but not let it get away. At one point, when the snake wrapped around his hand, he said “Dad—it’s giving my hand a hug!”
One morning I invited him to go out on the pond with me on a paddle boat. I didn’t think he would accept, but he wanted to go. I could tell he was a bit nervous at first, but then he relaxed, and even let me hold him out over the water so he could see the fish below.
Jonathan has a new (spiderman) fishing pole. At home he “practiced” casting by pushing the button and letting weight pull the line out. Then he learned how to move the pole at the same time, getting a bit of distance. On our camping trip, I showed him how to hold the pole, push the button, and then cast at just the right moment. I was amazed at how well he did it and how far he was casting!
Jonathan has always liked race cars and motorcycles, so when he saw the four wheeler, he wanted a ride. He sat in front of me, between my legs, but there wasn’t anything for him to hold onto, as he couldn’t reach the handlebars. I could tell he was a little nervous (it was his first time) so I started out really slow. When I began to go a little faster, or went over a bump, I put my left arm across his chest. I realized that he wasn’t as nervous as I thought, because he started pushing my arm away!
One day we took a walk down toward the reservoir to look at the sheep. We were walking through some pretty thick sagebrush, trying to avoid the thistles, when I saw a small garter snake slithering through the grass. It took me a minute to catch it, but when I did, Jonathan wanted to hold it. He thought it was the coolest thing. He walked around the camp, showing everyone. He was so careful to hold it gently, but not let it get away. At one point, when the snake wrapped around his hand, he said “Dad—it’s giving my hand a hug!”
2 comments:
That is so exciting. I am still so excited each time my kids try new things. It's great to see them overcome their fears.
I don't know who I am more proud of. Okay, I DO know who I am more proud of...YOU. Picking up a snake? What in the world were you thinking? EEeeeK! Good job Jonathan too. It is fun to watch them grow.
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