If you recall, Number 4 said she wanted to learn how to knit for Christmas.
When I wrote this post about that, the mom of one of my former swimmers sent me a message and offered to teach Number 4 to knit over Christmas vacation.
Now I didn’t know this mom very well. The dad of the former swimmer was the parent who was usually on practice duty, so I think I had only seen the mom a couple times at a random practice here or there, and the most we had ever said to each other was a quick hello in passing.
But I’d describe her this way: Picture, like, a German elementary school teacher combined with Mother Theresa.
Like if a woman from a Jan Brett book came to life and jumped out of the book. Like Baba from the Mitten or something.
That would be this lady. Nicest. Woman. Ever. (NWE)
So after Christmas, I saw her at the pool, and we decided she’d meet with Number 4 before practice the next day. Then we’d make arrangements for a couple more meetings after that.
For her second lesson, NWE took Number 4 to Panera.
Number 4 was in heaven.
For the third lesson, NWE offered to either come to our house, or she’d pick up Number 4 and take her over to her house.
I opted for option B since it was Christmas break and all the kids were home.
I didn’t want to traumatize the NWE.
Anyway, one of the things I love most about Number 4 is that she is up for anything. Everything is always fun and an adventure. Nothing scares her.
Then there is Number 3. He’s always been my anxious kid.
While Number 4 was looking out the window waiting for NWE to come pick her up, Number 3 asked her where she was going.
“I’M GOING TO NWE’S HOUSE!” she yelled. “I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HER HOUSE! I CAN’T WAIT TO KNIT! MOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE KNITTING!!!”
Number 3 stared at her with almost a look of terror on his face.
“YOU’RE GOING TO HER HOUSE??? ALONE??? YOU HARDLY EVEN KNOW HER!” he said.
“WHAT IF SHE JUST KNITS YOU INTO A HUGE WEB IN HER HOUSE AND KEEPS YOU PRISONER THERE???”
And that is the story of The Fearless Child vs. The Anxious Child.
Fantastic! I love how you write the way your kids talk (and yell)!
So true about fearless versus anxious people. It’s a lot more fun to be fearless, but anxious children need to ease their way into it at their own pace, if they can.
Happy New Year!
I have 7 kids too and it is so interesting to see the different personalities. Most of mine are pretty fearless except for my #4. He is always a challenge to get to do anything. He hates being left alone at a b-day party at 9! I would greatly appreciate a visit to my site. Us big family moms always relate to each other’s writing best.