First Times

We have spent time on firsts for everyone this summer:

Pumping themselves on the swings
Trying gymnastics
Learning to swim
Learning to ride a bike without training wheels
Trying the fireman's pole at the park
First time on a roller coaster
First sleepout in a tent

...yesterday's first was going down the "big" fireman's pole at the park.  A big accomplishment for our child who is scared of heights.  She watched her 5-year-old sister slip down the pole, and then a 6-year-old boy sped down it a few times.  Enough was enough - she was much older than those two and should be able to do this, too!  So down she went.

Today's first was riding her bike at the park.  We practiced all week, up and down the driveway until my back ached.  We had told her "No video games until you learn to ride your bike!"  It was time.  8 years old is plenty old enough to ride her bike.  But she was afraid, so it required action.

And she was so pleased when she got the hang of it.  A smile worth 1,000 backaches!

Throughout this process, I have had to look back - potty training seemed like it would take forever, but we went step by step with each child.  With practice, practice, and more practice they finally did it!

Then we cheered and congratulated ourselves on a job well done. 

But I'm not kidding myself - I know there will be a new challenge next week.  Or tomorrow. 


Sometimes we have to stop life as usual to do something important with our kids.  We have to make them a priority and help them graduate to "the next level."

After teaching our 8-year-old to ride her bike, I started to wonder...is this her last first?

It might be her last little kid to big kid transition, but certainly not her last first.

No - there are so many more to come!  In the next 10 years, we'll probably deal with:

first day of third grade
first day of fourth grade...

first performances
new friends


learning to drive
getting her driver's license
watching her leave on her first solo drive

the first crush
the first date

...and eventually, we'll be packing her up and taking her to college, where she will learn to spread her wings as an adult, and after 4 years, will be ready to fly away on her own adventures.

These years are going so fast, and they're going to go faster still!

I pray we will honor God with our parenting, and that the children will be raised in a way that honors Him.  They are gifts He's given us for a short time.  

"Teach us to number our days aright
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12