The Green Frog
We love going to the park at the Woodcock Dam. Its right
below a beautiful butterfly garden and few hiking trails. I chose to sit on the
bench in the shade. A few kids were playing close by, their parents watching
their every move. I let the kids loose to play. There were four different
slides, monkey bars, a little bridge, and a pair of bouncy spring type animals
to ride on.
Abby chose the yellow duck. It was the bigger of the two. I’m
guessing she felt safer but she still rocked very daintily. Ronnie settled for
the green frog, rocking back and forth on the giant spring beneath his feet. I
watched as he stood up and stretched his arms out, eyes closed, with a huge
grin on his slightly freckled face.
They interacted with the other children, but you could see
the awkwardness in their body language. Still trying to figure out how to
maneuver in social situations, especially with kids you didn’t know. But, they
managed to start a game of tag, and then the boys started to toss a football
around.
I watched the other parents, another mother in particular,
who caught my eye. She seemed to emanate pure anxiety about her kids playing
with other people’s children. I knew how she was feeling because I used to be
like her. But, I’ve come to realize that you can’t be in control all of the
time. You have to let kids be kids, because it’s all a learning experience for
them.
Honestly, I was waiting for her to call her kids over and
leave but after a few minutes went by and she realized that my children, let
alone the other kids there, posed no threat to hers, she seemed to become a bit
more relaxed…but not too much.
As I watched my kids play, I couldn’t help but think about
when they were little babies, toddlers getting into everything. Now seeming so
grown up, and doing so many things by themselves.
I wonder where the time goes. My precious babies aren’t
babies anymore but there was something about that moment where Ronnie stood up
on that green frog with such an innocent, care free spirit that put a smile on
my face and in my heart.
Beautiful!
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