Do what scares you

Today I let my 4 year old go down this ginormous water slide that truthfully, scares the crap out of me.

Why?

Because he wanted to.

He wasn’t afraid. And he asked.

I had to decide in that moment to either project my fears and worries onto him or let him give it a shot.

I decided not to create fears in him that aren’t there. To let him decide what he is comfortable doing.

And you know what? He had fun. Even went down twice.

How many of our own dreams and hopes and things that excite us have been stifled by someone else’s opinion? Or apprehension?

I had to ask myself what’s the worst that could happen in this controlled environment with his dad waiting at the bottom for him and lifeguards all around? The only thing I could think of is that he might get scared half way down and panic.

But isn’t that life?

So what. If he hates it, he learns that he doesn’t want to do it again. That it isn’t for him.

If he loves it, then he just figured out one more thing he CAN do. And how cool is that?

Call me crazy. Call me stupid. But I refuse to be a helicopter mom who tells her children they can’t do something simply because it scares ME.

Proud of this little boy for doing a BIG boy thing today! And proud of myself for letting him.

Do something every day that scares you. Take the chances. Learn what’s right & wrong for you by at least giving it a try.