in a tree

 

Lance has put me in a bad position.

 

The boys aren't quite big enough to get up in our tree at home, so Lance has taken to picking them up and placing them in the tree. I however am not strong enough to do this or maybe I should say, I'm not tall enough to do it. Either way, it touches a nerve in me. I have spent a lot of life trying to be strong and capable, so this situation is slightly annoying. I don't like to say to my boys that I can't do something that Lance can.

 

So when after dropping off Will at preschool Isaac asked for help climbing one of the trees there, I could finally agree because the tree was perfectly short enough. What I didn't consider is that once in the tree, Isaac would start climbing. That probably should have been obvious, but in the moment I was only thinking about my successful participation in putting him in the tree and the adorable picture I was now going to snap with my phone.

 

As I'm fumbling with my phone and half heartedly "spotting" him, he's climbing.

 

I keep saying, "high enough, Isaac. That's good. Stop. For reals, Stop!"

 

Eventually, he did and I could breathe again. 

 

It was fun to see him perched up in a new tree--viewing his world from a different perspective. I could tell how big and powerful he felt to be high in its limbs.

 

Eventually we had to go, though. All good things must come to an end, right? And all children must eventually come down from their trees. Getting him down required climbing up the bottom of the tree myself. I was cursing under my breath while wondering if anyone was going to pass by and see both of us in the tree. This thought made me smile.

 

Before our feet were on the ground, I did manage to snap a cool picture. And since he didn't fall, I think I can stick this moment into my successful parenting pocket.

 

See Mom can lift you up into trees too?

 

(when they are really short and because you weigh very little still).

 

I have a feeling I'm going to be calling after Isaac a lot in the coming years. Simultaneously yelling for him to stop, while trying to snap a quick photo of whatever craziness he is doing.