The End of an Era for #17.

He finished playing University ball in the spring of 2016.  

#17

We loved watching him play.

He had fun, which, if you asked him, was one of his main goals.

He learned many skills, some of them about baseball, most of them about life.

He loved chasing down fly balls in the outfield.

He stayed true to himself.

Some of the guys that he respected, looked up to and really enjoyed as team mates.

We are so proud of you #17, for this great accomplishment.  For hanging in there when things were really, really tough. For overcoming obstacles of fear, exhaustion, and frustration. You graduated from this program a better athlete, a more mature person, and an amazing son!

Well done! 

We Know the Way.

We had the pleasure of a visit with some of our grown kids this summer.  We love to have them of course and really enjoyed some one on one time with our granddaughter who is growing so fast these days. 

 As we were experiencing very hot temperatures we retreated to the creek that borders our property. The coolness of the air beside the creek provided pleasant relief and if that wasn't enough we had the option of dipping our hot feet into the frigid mountain waters for as long as we could stand it.  

 What a perfect place for a  young child to play.  Water, sticks, and stones and some challenge.  It just doesn't get any better.  

We decided to move down the creek where there was a bit more room for Nanny and Papa's lawn chairs.  What we noticed was there was a little island of rocks that was still in the safe zone from the rushing water.  We got busy and built a bridge of rocks so we could cross over.

Navigating the slippery and sometimes wobbly rocks was challenging.

Keeping her balance and using her whole body to stay safe and get back to the bank.

And around and around she went.  Faster and more confidently each time.

Of course the song, We Know the Way, from the movie Moana, came to mind and she sang because she knows all the words (and I hummed because I do not).

We read the wind and the sky

When the sun is high

We sail the length of the seas
On the ocean breeze
At night we name every star
We know where we are
We know who we are, who we are

Aue, aue
We set a course to find
A brand new island everywere we roam
Aue, aue
We keep our island in our mind
And when it's time to find home
We know the way

Risk Taking on the Toddler Climber.

I came across this set of images recently.  I carefully saved them and was going to share and then life happened and it didn't make it to this place.  Until today.

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook

 about children climbing up the slide at the playground.  Quite a conversation ensued with many parents chiming in with their experiences in the playground and their thoughts on whether or not children should be allowed to climb up the slide.

In my opinion, I have come to the place where I like to assess the situation on a more individual basis and not have a hard and fast rule one way or the other.  

I have taken my granddaughter to the park where because there were fewer children present the way that she chose to use the climbing apparatus was a non-issue.  She could do her own thing because no one else was affected.  We have gone sometimes when it's been busier and I have watched her regulate herself and take turns and slide down the slide and not climb up.  My help was not required.  Her choices were perfectly socially acceptable.

The following pictures are taken in a toddler room where I used to work.  We had this lovely wooden climber/slide/tunnel donated to us.  Needless to say, it gets lots of use.  Safety is always a rule in this daycare but children are given a lot of space to move and challenge themselves.

This little two-year old arrived first thing in the morning with lots of energy.  He was the only child there and had the climber to himself.  How he used it was incredible.

He thought of several ways to go up and down.  

Using hands to climb up.

Then no hands.

Driving cars up.

Experimenting with how to go down.  On the tummy, feet first.

Crouching and hiding underneath.

Head first going down.

He navigated the bottom just fine.

Running down.

Running down and jumping off at the end.

Perhaps the most significant thing of all, apart from how adept and capable he was physically, is that this kind of risk-taking completely changed when other children arrived.  He was able to regulate on his own, at two years of age, how to play when others were also using the slide.

Trust.  He showed me that I could trust him and I did.