“Push me higher,” she screams, her voice shaking with joy and anticipation.
Tim pulls back and lets her go toward the skies like a rubber band. She laughs, unfettered – eyes sparkling, lips parted: “HIGHER! HIGHER!”
“That IS high,” he protests.
“That’s NOT HIGH,” she shouts back, indignantly.
The higher she is, the happier she is…yet it’s still not quite high enough.
I sit on the park bench, holding her baby sister, watching the exchange with a slight smile on my face.
As I watch, I think of this little swing ride as a metaphor. I catch my breath and pray quietly, “Help her to dream big, to reach high…to always, always say, ‘That’s NOT HIGH’ when people tell her that her dreams are too wide and deep.”
And then Shel Silverstein’s famous poem whispers across my mind –
Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child.
Listen to the DON’TS.
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS.
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS.
Listen to the NEVER HAVES.
Then listen close to me –
Anything can happen, child.
ANYTHING can be.
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Sara Greco says
January 29, 2010 at 11:49 pmI was recently talking to a friend who has older children and she was saying how “easy” it is for us now (tongue in cheek!). It’s nice being able to control how high and fast they go now, huh? Lord, please HELP me for when they are pushing themselves!!
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Madeline says
January 29, 2010 at 10:05 pmOh. my. I got a little teary eyed reading this one. What a wonderful prayer.
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Becca says
January 29, 2010 at 9:05 pmSo Lovely!
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KellieS says
January 29, 2010 at 7:46 pmEndless possibilities…
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Casual Friday Every Day says
January 29, 2010 at 4:06 pmLove it!
Nell
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Mary @ Parenthood says
January 29, 2010 at 3:20 pmWhat a beautiful poem! I love it.
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Mel @ A Box of Chocolates says
January 29, 2010 at 3:07 pmBeautiful post Stephanie! I wish the same thing for my two kiddos. Dream big, Go High!!
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Jessie says
January 29, 2010 at 10:44 amWhat a beautiful thought-and another stunning photo! We adore Shel in our house. Your reflections & his poem are kindred spirits.
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Cyndi says
January 29, 2010 at 9:58 amLove your thoughts. Great post.
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Naomi says
January 29, 2010 at 8:57 amI love that book! This one is the contemporary version, I think:
http://veryawesomeworld.com/awesomebook/inside.html
Never put up boundaries that don’t need to be there. Absolutely true!
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Michelle says
January 29, 2010 at 8:37 amThere is an awesome new book:
Higher, Higher all about swinging.
Get it at your library.
total greatness.
http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Leslie-Patricelli/dp/0763632414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264779439&sr=8-1
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Amy M says
January 29, 2010 at 8:27 amSo sweet!
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Darcie - Such The Spot says
January 29, 2010 at 6:49 amLove that Shel Silverstein poem. And how you applied it to your day at the park.
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Jen C. says
January 29, 2010 at 6:30 amI love days at the park with my kids. I’m one of those Moms who gets up on the equipment or swings right along with my kids. Once my son learned how to pump his legs I would sit with my daughter on my lap on the swing next to him and we would all swing together. So much fun!! Hearing “higher, higher Mom” never gets old!! :) Enjoy those times with your girls.
And I love Shel Silverstein as well. I just recently realized that we didn’t own any of his books except The Giving Tree so I went and bought Where the Sidewalk Ends. I plan on getting his other ones as well.
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Chelsea says
January 29, 2010 at 5:54 amPure joy!
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Kayla says
January 28, 2010 at 9:57 pmWhat a great picture and a very lovely post!
That makes me want to become a child again and be pushed on a swing :)
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Christine says
January 28, 2010 at 9:25 pmWhat a fantastic picture! :) Also a lovely little reminder post!
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Lindsay says
January 28, 2010 at 9:20 pmI love this perspective! Such a nice outlook…and one I will think about tomorrow when my 2.5 yr. old screams the same thing. It amazes every single time when she is completely unphased by going higher while I am shaking in my boots! But he laughing sure is nice!
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Blessed says
January 28, 2010 at 9:03 pmThank you for reminding me of that poem – it’s what I want to teach my children too – anything can be, always reach higher.
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Nicole Feliciano says
January 28, 2010 at 9:02 pmI love that poem. And I highly recommend the Book Blueberry Girl. Same idea and gorgeous!
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Our Crazy Boys says
January 28, 2010 at 8:36 pmAwh, I love it.
It makes me laugh when my boys say “higher, higher!” Then they yell “too high, Mom! STOP!”
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Nini Lettner says
January 28, 2010 at 8:28 pmJust teared up reading this. You are the best mom. Shel Silverstein is a favorite in our house.