Splashes

This is a picture of our youngest grandson at his Blessing Ceremony eight years ago. I think it says it all.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Today I am grateful for splashes. I got to talking with one of the lifeguards at the Y today about all of the bawlers we have in our current classes. I don’t know if it’s a full moon, or fear, or if bawling works every place else so hey, why not try it at the pool. When you’re three you don’t have that much rationale, but we do, so we keep trying to figure it out. Here’s how it plays out.

Tot: Brwaaaahhhhhhha!

Me: No crying in the pool. We have enough water already.

Tot: uhnsgyabrwaaaahhhhaa!

Me: Do you know why you are crying?

Tot: (Sniff, gasp, snort flubberizing with a lot of vibrating lips.)

Me: Okay, that’s better. Now tell me why you’re crying.

Tot: I got splashded.

Me: Honey, you’re in a pool. There is water. You’re going to get splashed at some point.

Tot: (Sniff, crank, bluster.) But I don’t like getting splashded! (whoofing, sobby breaths)

Me: Well, sweetie, it’s only water.

While we were discussing this, the lifeguard made a good point. She said, “Everyday you’re going to get splashed by something. Might as well get used to it.” I got to thinking how true that statement is.

From the time we are little and begin to really live, we are getting splashed. Someone pushes us down, hurts our feelings, laughs at us, yells at us, gives us a bad grade, won’t hire us, fires us, hurts our feelings (that’s an on-going one), betrays us, physically attacks us, wounds our pride, lies to us. . .the metaphoric splashes are endless.

The sooner and more completely we teach our children, grandchildren and ourselves that what sometimes seems like a personal tsunami, in the big scheme of things, is only a little splash, the better off we’d all be. What’s a little water?