This summer has been chock full o' drama. The drama of the ba da da dum WATERSLIDE!!!!
Ima, the 5 yo, has been contemplating the slide all summer long. She has been in swim lessons for six weeks and every other Friday is fun day. The kids can take a ride down the slide if they want to. Lotta, the 7 yo, has fearlessly gone down the slide since she was three. Not Ima.
The slide is about the height of a three story building. She'll go up to the top of the slide, change her mind and have to do the walk of shame down the stairs. Some moms were trying to think of good bribes to get Ima to go down. I'm happy to report that we really couldn't come up with a good bribe for her. I'd like to think this is because she's not very material. I'd have to confess it's probably because she's reached toy saturation.
The bribe I came up with was a trophy. That is something she really wants. I have a feeling that I'll be staying up late tonight taping toilet paper tubes together to imitate the water slide to attach on an old trophy.
The pool director is in on the drama. Every day she asks Ima if this is the day. Finally, the pool director said that on Ima's last day of lessons she can go down the slide with her teacher. A huge bend of the rules, which Ima is getting because the director thinks she is so stinkin' cute. (Her words).
Just so you don't think Ima's a big wuss, you should know that she goes off the diving board in the 12' deep pool for hours on end. Not scared a bit.
I'll let you know how it goes.
UPDATE: Ima was grabbed by her teacher the minute she hit the pool. "We're going down the slide right now," said Esther W., her teacher.
Ima and Esther went down the slide together twice. Then Ima tackled it all on her own. Over and over. And over. She got caught running toward the stairs she was in such a hurry. We went back on Saturday so that she could spend another two hours doing nothing but going down the slide.
"How many times did you go down the slide?" I asked.
"'bout a dozen," Ima said. She hasn't got a clue how many a dozen is, but it sounds right to her.
5 comments:
Fear it is a funny thing and often makes no sense to the observer.
I will send Ima my good thoughts, if she can go off that board she is doing way better than me.
I am shocked that you waterboard your children without military supervision.
Wow, she can go off the diving board but not the slide? Come on, Ima--you can do it!
I predict she'll LOVE it and then spend the rest of the day on the thing.
Can't wait to see the trophy!
Once an adult goes down the slide with her, she'll be hooked for life. When 7yo was 5, he was really afraid to try boogie boarding at the beach, but he really wanted to. I turned the boogie board sideways and got him to catch a wave with me, and he was hooked. He boogie boarded for the rest of the week with no help.
Tell Ima we're all pulling for her. Launch when ready young lady.
Post a Comment