Moment of Pride

I have to take a minute to tell you this story. I had a moment of pure JOY watching my child (Kennedy) play at the Bounce House yesterday. First off....we have tried to take her 4 times...and not one time has she gone on any of the jump jumps because she has been TERRIFIED!! I have finally come to grips that I have a somewhat "shy and timid" daughter. It's very hard for an extrovert to know how to raise someone that struggles with fear. It can be an annoyance at times because you know that she is missing out on so much fun!! Well, when I say terrified of the bounce house - I Mean screaming and crying and snotting EVERYwhere! She usually buries her face in my chest and honestly feels like she is going to DIE if she even comes in EYE contact of these large bounce 'things'.

Yesterday - I got to experience an entire process of overcoming this fear!! We arrived at around 10am and the minute she saw where we were going she started FREAKING out! "Bye-Bye"..."NO MOMMY!"...over and over. I calmly told her that she wasn't going to play - only watch the other children play....it didn't help! She sat on my lap and cried for 30 minutes until she cried herself to sleep. :) I ignored her for the most part and tried to talk to my friend Stefanie...but I'm telling you...her face did not come out of my chest for an entire hour.

At about 11am...she woke up and decided that she would use the crayons and color sheet I had gotten her...and she started watching the other kids! She would say "Gook Mommy"! "Slide!" I would ask her if she wanted me to go with her and she would say "NO!"

At about 11:15 she met a little friend named Jordyn who was having the time of her life! I started making friends with her Mommy and before you know it, Kennedy was running around. This was HUGE to me! She wouldn't even go NEAR the inflatables, but this was the first time in 4 visits that she wasn't on my lap!

At about 11:30 Jordyn must have gotten tired of running, because she started going back on the inflatables. I could see her desire to try it...but she was so sad because of her fear! She came over for a few hugs and then went to watch Jordyn bounce. Before long Kennedy was bouncing on these little mats and peeking her head in the inflatables....I knew she was close! I asked her again if she would go with Mommy...and she said "NO!"

At about 11:45, Jordyn's Mommy took Jordan on this huge slide...and said "Come on Kennedy"...and Kennedy kind of followed - and then chickened out..and then followed...and then chickened out...and then FOLLOWED!!! My heart was POUNDING for her!!! She had to go through a tunnel, around an obstacle course - and climb a wall...and then all of a sudden...SHE WAS LOOKING DOWN AT ME FROM THE TOP!!! I cheered and whistled and clapped - and counted to 3 and down she came....saying "WEE" in a shaky little voice! The minute she got to the bottom - she looked at me with this HUGE smile and said "MORE!" She went constantly for the next 45 minutes...and even said "Come on Mom!"....I have to say...it was a blast!!

I could have bawled my eyes out!!! My heart was bursting out my chest! I was so proud of her for overcoming her fears! I felt at that moment I could conquer the world...because in Kennedy's world...she had done just that!