It Takes a Village to Cross The Monkey Bars

I have learned something about determination from my daughter.  Recently she came to me telling me that she really wanted to play with her friend "E" but couldn't because she always plays on the monkey bars- and Fi didn't know how. Fiona decided she would learn how to get across the bars so she could play too.  I told her that we could go outside every day after school so she could practice alone.  And we did.  Every day she would walk into my classroom, beg for a snack, and then beg to go out and practice.  She would climb up the three yellow steps, reach for the bar, and giggle.  She'd get the first bar firmly in her hands and slowly take one foot at a time away from the steps.  Then-she would hang. She was too afraid to let go. The next day we practiced dropping. No big deal.  Then, reaching for one bar. No big deal. Then, she made it to the second bar and got her first blister.  The days went on.

One day she made it to the third bar and shared her excitement with one of my teacher friends on the playground who sweetly cheered her on. Fast forward to the other day when I looked out my window to see a pair of glowing green eyes beaming with pride through my window. "MOMMY, I WENT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BARS!"  It was as if she'd won a million dollars.  She begged me to come watch.  I went outside my door and as she stepped up the steps to the bars I heard her friends chanting, "Go Fiona! Go Fiona! Go Fiona!"  I'm all tears full of pride for my girl.  She makes it to the 4th bar and drops.  I clap as though she crossed the valley on the bars.  She comes back to assure me that she made it the first time but couldn't do it again.  After school I see another teacher friend and her niece outside giving Fiona tips on how to gain momentum by swinging her legs.  I am tickled by how many people have cheered her on through this learning experience.

I write about this because I saw a little girl who really wanted to do something.  And did it.  I saw people support her and show her that once she learns to trust herself she can do the impossible. Can you imagine the possibilities?