Listening to Childlike Wisdom

I have leaned a great deal from my 11 year-old this week. Sure, there are times that I want to forgo mothering teenage girls, but 90% of the time, I am beyond grateful for this amazing journey. If you know our household, you know that our kids are driven. In terms of nature vs. nurture, we work very hard to have an atmosphere of responsibility in our family, but we also try very hard to allow our girls to set their own goals.

And, girl, do they ever!

Each in their very unique ways,  both my girls have high standards for themselves. Our oldest's goals are very cerebral. Academically driven and forward planning in her reading and writing goals, she commits herself to study and knowledge and education. Our youngest shares an equally driven spirit, but it presents in her goals to help others and succeed in her sport. She trains, she prioritizes her schedule and she spends countless hours researching, dreaming and setting goals about swimming. Just this week, she built a model of the Beijing Olympic Birds nest natatorium as a choice research project! She loves swimming.

Her body is growing at a Hilbrich size rate. She has grown 3" since school started this year. She literally has growing pains, which most recently has included a hip injury. Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse. She has been preparing for the Texas state meet and a national meet. Both will happen in the next 6 weeks.

On Saturday, she was struggling at practice, and I could tell she was frustrated. At the end of practice, She attempted to perform a backstroke start (what she would be swimming in Dallas in 7 days). She couldn't fold her legs. Her anger was intense. She was crushed, she knew what it meant.

The next two hours were tough. Tears were shed. Texts were sent. Fear was present. Disappointment was profound. And here is where the lesson came.

As she took a deep breath, processed the decision, sat with the impact and then she was lighter. She knew, as hard as it was, that she had to take care of herself and she did. I know many grown-ups that can't make that hard decision. I have struggled myself many times. But she knew the right decision was to rest. To be still. To heal.

How many of us need to do those things this season? What do we need to say 'no' to?
No matter what others may think.
Even if yours is not the decision someone else would make.

When we know that it is time to stop and do the hard work of healing, may we pursue it with the same dedication and high standards that we pursue our dreams. And, may we listen to the 11 year-olds in our life that have so much to teach us.