Sydney got herself into a pickle at the playground recently. She climbed up to the top of some bars and freaked out when she looked down. It was at that point in time she got tunnel vision. She couldn’t see a way out and broke down in tears.  

Jeremy started talking her through it, providing solutions for her to choose a way out. She kept glancing over at me with stares that said, “What am I going to do?” and “Aren’t you going to help me get out of this?”. When I decided that Jeremy’s plan was no longer going to work, I swept in and knew I could fix the situation. That’s where my selfish thinking still gets in my way from time to time.  

Although she calmed down a bit when I started talking with her and not at her, it wasn’t enough for her to be able to think through how she was going to get down off this play equipment. I even literally showed her where to put her feet. But it was her own mind in her way. 

And then our knight in shining armor came to her rescue. Jeremy came on the backside of her and said, “Sydney, just lean back. Take the easy way out and lean back. You can’t do hard things.” 

That’s when I saw a fire light in her eyes, and a reminder for me that “dang, she is my kid.” Tell us we can’t do something and watch us. Well played, Jeremy, well played. 

It was then she told herself a different story. It switched from I can’t do this to I can do this. And that was all it took. 

Girl maneuvered her way down in less than one minute. She then looked at her father and said, “You’re wrong, Daddy. I can do hard things.” I giggled at that, as I know he did, too. 

Whether it’s figuring out how you’re going to manage the week’s drop-offs and pick-ups or how you’re going to get these kids to bed, remember- you can do hard things. And I’ll be the first to tell you “You can.” (or “can’t,” if you’re like Sydney and me) to get you motivated.   

Love, 

Denise