changes

Things are changing in our house - our daughter had preschool graduation last week and today she took off her training wheels :( She is officially a big girl now (her words). My husband was awesome heloing her this morning -- so patient and kind - plus reassuring too! He also knew there was no going back -- we can not put the training wheels back on he told her gently - you can do this. Within an hour she was riding by herself!

I sat and watched with amazement and took pictures too! The whole time I was learning about parenting according to each child's bent -- and how they learn too!

My son declared he wanted to take his training wheels off when he came home from his first day of kindergarten - a new found independance I suppose. He got on the bike with Don's hand on the seat and he took off -- right away from his fathers safety grasp - he never looked back and never fell down - the momentus occassion was complete in a matter of seconds.

My daughter on the other hand - went upstairs to put on jeans and a sweatshirt in case she fell all the while singing this is the best day in the world!! Then after an hour of repeated instrucion about how to start the bike with one peddle up, how to keep her balance, how to steer away from trees, garage doors, slides and people - she got it and started to take off -- first just 2 feet alone then 3 ,4,5 and finally the whole driveway!

I know some of these differences in learning styles are male and female in nature. He is stronger physically and commanded the bike - she let the bike take her places. However some of these are personality things - he is a thinker she is a feeler. He understands how the peddles work and which way to lean - no one taught him this stuff - he just gets it and loves it. She just needed to be told - she has no interest in why the peddles move the chain and the wheels - so she needed to be told each step of the way what she needed to to do. He would not try anything until he knew he could do it , if by chance he tried something and failed he would give up -- she will try anything even if she can't do and just keep trying.

I know God is revealing all this along the way so we can fully parent according to their individual bent - put there by God himself to do great things for him when fully surrendered!

God is also using times like this for Don and I to realize more about ourselves and our bent!


The learning never ends!