Where Cam is basically fearless, Calen naturally fears the unknown. Anything remotely "scary" is unapproachable, unattainable, and most certainly not worth facing. Of course, Brad and I feel as parents that he should learn how to face his fears and more importantly conquer them. You know, life skills and all that nonsense.
Not that flying down a curved ramp on a metal scooter is exactly "life skill" material, but that's what we had to work with today.
Yesterday Calen absolutely positively had a meltdown at the top of the skate ramp with his scooter. He wanted to go down it but was way too afraid. That part I get, and we didn't push it. But the simultaneous emotional breakdown was a little much, and we decided it was a teaching moment. So today, we bought some knee and elbow pads, took him back to the skate park, had him climb the ramp and slide down it on his knees.
Look, see? It doesn't hurt does it?
Impressed with his new "armor", he took his scooter to the top, and after a couple deep breaths (and some slight peer pressure from Mom and Dad), he went down it, didn't die (or crash), and was so happy and loved it so much he did it twenty more times in a row.
Sometimes you just have to throw them off the ramp.
Endnote: No, we didn't throw him off the ramp. No, we didn't FORCE him to go down it. It was something he really wanted to do but didn't know how to approach it. And he's glad we encouraged him to get back out there and do it. Now get on with your hippy life.
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| Success. This was a few times after his first run. |
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