It's a LONG way down......

There are so many things that I want to post about this week but one particular event really stands out in my mind. So, the others will have to wait for another day.
Yesterday Tiny Man and I had quite an experience together with a group of about 100 strangers at the North Shore Pool. We have been there a few times this year and he has always wanted to go off of the high dive. I have allowed this but he just has never been able to bring himself to do it. I have seen him countless times from afar wait in line, climb the ladder and walk to the end of the diving board only to turn around and climb back off unsuccessful. Well, yesterday we had the opportunity to have Nate attend the pool with us. Nate came and found me and told me that Tiny Man had wanted me to go to the big pool to watch him jump off the high dive. Thinking that he had already done it I grabbed the camera and headed over. I saw that he was already in line, we made eye contact, smiled and I waited with him for his turn. Once I saw him climbing up the stairs I positioned the camera for the big moment. I snapped off a picture of him walking on the board thinking it would go quick.
Once he reached the end he hesitated. I started cheering for him and encouraging him to jump. He waited. I snapped another picture to show what I thought was just a momentary hesitation.
My cheering must have come to some of the crowds attention. I got a little bit of motherly nervousness for him as the crowd started to take notice and yell things out. Some of it was from less sensitive kids telling him to jump or get off, others were far more encouraging.
As I cheered and tried to give him words of encouragement I saw a variety of emotions play across his face. I told him to just look at me and not down as he stepped off. I saw his eyes close in an attempt to be brave in front of the crowd.
As the minutes ticked by the crowd became more and more aware of my Tiny Man's inner struggle. I was becoming increasingly concerned with how they might react to my little boy. I prayed inwardly that they would remain kind and positive towards him.
As he struggled to pull together the courage to jump I heard a variety of reactions in the crowd. I could still hear those irritatingly impatient kids taunting him to jump or get off. I also knew that he could hear them too. However, I also heard far more encouraging words from the crowd. At one point there at the end there was a group of total strangers chanting "Do it! Do it! Do it!" At this he smiled and looked at me. I encouraged him to just close his eyes and step off...to just let go and not think about it. It happened so quickly I almost missed it! As he stepped off the high dive the crowd erupted into a round of applause and cheers for my boy. As I struggled to take the picture and cheer at the same time my eyes immediately watered. It was one of the proudest moments I have had.

I was so grateful for the awesome experience he had just had and for the encouragement of the crowd. As he hung out around the pool a short time later I witnessed young and old come up to him and bump fists with him, high five him and tell him how awesome that was! I loved it and I know for a fact he did too! He went on to jump off the high dive EIGHT times that afternoon. It was a great day and it still brings tears to my eyes to think about it! Congratulations Tiny Man!