Abi likes a little thrill. Not the thoughtless rambunctious kind, but the the mostly safe kind. She likes to stand on our bed and tip backwards like a tree into a pile of pillows– Timmmmmbbbbeeerrrr! She likes to go down a slide as long as she is on my lap, and to try to dunk her whole head under the water as long as she is the one squatting down, controlling her descent. So far she’s made it in up to her nose. Camping this weekend, she had a great time daring herself to go deeper and deeper into the cold, muddy lake. She finds it delicious to have her daddy toss her into the air, just a little bit, and to fall headlong into his arms when she takes a risk and walks farther than she thinks she can. The other day I watched her size up the distance between her and the enticingly opened dresser drawer, trying to decide if she could make it. “You can make it!” I said. She shook her head with conviction. “yes, you can!” I repeated. She gave me a little sideways grin, shook her head again, and triangulated the distance. She went first to a chair she knew she could reach and then over to the dresser. Triumph! When she is in the middle of one of these little thrills she looks a little stunned, then the fear is overcome by a tiny smile that grows and grows and grows. Then, of course, she wants to do it again.

Tags: