Be Careful, Sammy

She negotiates the ladders and climbing platforms with expert skill utilizing every trick of balance and motion that she has learned in her lifetime of 22 months. She has perfect concentration as she looks ahead to determine where she will go next and what she will have to do to get there. She is confident.  When she approaches the large green slide, she never hesitates but immediately gets into position at the top.  She is brave.  And with her hands straight out from her sides, she flies down the slide with the most wonderfully big smile. She is happy. She lands safely at the bottom. She is safe.

She continues her journey through this new playground, investigating every corner, every swing, and every tunnel. I stand nearby watching her every movement, marveling as I see her learning and experiencing new things, and laughing along with her as she finds such joy in play. But I am ready also, ready in case she has a problem, in case she falters, in case she needs me in any way. If she needs me, I will be there to help with whatever she encounters.

She comes upon something new – a suspension bridge that sits between two platforms.  She stands on the first platform assessing the bridge and I can tell she is trying to puzzle through what it is and what she is supposed to do. After only a short moment of contemplation, she cautiously steps one foot on the bridge and then the other. It is secured tightly so that it doesn’t swing back and forth, but it does bounce and she is immediately aware that it is less than sturdy footing. And this is when I hear her say to herself “Be careful, Sammy.”

She very tentatively takes another step, and then another with a bit more confidence. But I hear her say to herself one more time as she continues on her journey, “Be careful, Sammy.”

As I hear her, I am so proud of her bravery to try something new, and so proud of her intelligence that she knows there are times she will need to be careful. She is surrounded in life by an army of people who love her and will stop at nothing to protect her. But I have the knowledge that 46 years of living has brought to me, and I know that there will be so many times ahead of her that she will need to be cautious on her own.  And even though so many of us who love her will always be nearby, sometimes she will be crossing a bridge by herself. I know what she hasn’t yet learned. I know that there will be lots of moments in her life when she will be afraid, or sad, or disappointed. I know that there are going to be lots of moments when she will need to be careful and to closely guard herself, her convictions, her heart. And I hope that when those times come, she won’t forget that little voice reminding her to “Be careful, Sammy.”

But I also know that it is those times of caution that teach us such important lessons about ourselves and about the world around us. I have no doubt that Sammy will grow and thrive along with each lesson learned, and in addition, she will have a million more moments of fun, adventure, discovery and laughter. She will climb the ladders, swing high on the swings, and cross the bridges when necessary, and I know that she will always “Be careful, Sammy.”