Lessons from the High Dive, Part 1

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I was splashing in the baby pool with Maggie a few days ago when suddenly a distant flash of blue caught my eye.

As I turned my gaze from my ruffle-suited little girl to the deep end of the swimming pool, I spied him.

A dot atop the high dive, my three-year-old was poised to jump. Clad with confidence in his faded tie-dye life jacket, Joshua bent his knees and flung himself off the board, then promptly flapped his arms like a chicken and squawked until he hit the water (we’ve always known this kid is unique!)

Flabbergasted, I grabbed my baby and raced to the deep end with my heart in my throat.
 
Is that really my little boy?
How can he be big enough to jump off the high dive?
Didn’t he just slither from my womb yesterday?
What happened to the toddler who was afraid of getting water in his eyes?
Where’s the cautious three-year-old who wouldn’t let go of my hand?
Isn’t that the little boy who clung to the pool’s edge while his big sisters begged him to let go and swim with them?
 

By the time I reached my crazy diver, he was dog paddling to the side with a watery grin plastered on his face.
 
 
“Mom! Did you see me? THAT WAS AWESOME!” Joshua clapped his hands together in glee, then began to climb the tall ladder to the top of the high dive once again.

The high dive may be a source of excitement for my three-and-a-half -year -old, but for me, it is a vivid reminder that little boys don’t stay little very long. (Today- the high dive. Tomorrow- a driver’s license. The next day- a moving truck).

My son’s graduation to the BIG BOARD beckons me to treasure these years as if they were mere minutes on the clock of life. Before I know it, my little ones will be poised to make a splash in the deep waters ofthe big world without me (and yours will too).

Today’s Overflow:  “Teach me to number my days aright, O Lord, that I might gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Alicia

2 Comments

  1. best cairns snorkel trip says:

    It’s difficult to find well-informed people in this particular subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says:

    Oh my! I can’t believe he did that on his own!!!! We just went to the water park last night and the two big kids were tall enough this year to go on the waterslides! What fun (until the thunder and lightening made is leave)!!! But yes, just another milestone in the brief lives with us – great reminder!
    ~Robin 🙂

    Reply

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