*This is an older post of mine but I never published it*
Rachel (our oldest) has always been reserved and not really wanting to try new things. Monday and last night she rode her bike without training wheels (for a bit)! You should have seen the look on her face! I know some may say, "She's almost 8yrs old, she should be riding good by now." The only thing (activity wise) that Rachel has ever been excited about is running (like track). She has femoral torsion in her legs. Her femurs go into her hip sockets differently than others. It really isn't that noticeable anymore but it is noticeable to some degree. Over the past few years her confidence has grown and grown. People have noticed it and she has too. She actually wants to play a team sport this year! Her first practice for softball is Friday. She said she is a little nervous but excited!
Elisabeth is 5 yrs old and has always been more outgoing but sometimes would take cues from Rachel and act more reserved than she really was. Yesterday she was fitted for her ballet clothes and will start classes the first week of September. She is so excited! She said she wants to do ballet forever. She also rode her bike for a little bit without training wheels! She was so excited she started giggling and couldn't stop. When I watched her at ballet camp take direction from her teacher and pay attention with such intensity, I started to tear up. This is our little fiery red head that sometimes can't sit still to save her life but she was doing what she loves and wants to learn!
Now, Sarah is only 3 but she thinks she can do it all. She got on her tricycle and just goes. No one had to show her how to peddle, she just did it. She is very independent. At the park Monday, she was climbing this ladder on the jungle gym. Mike was behind her, helping her a little. She was halfway up and said, "Daddy, now you go over there. I do it myself." She climbed up, climbed down to the 2nd to last rung and jumped off. Sometimes she will act reserved (can you tell I don't like the word shy) but again she will pick up cues from the other 2. She wants to do ballet as well but she is not ready...just yet.
The reason I type this is because a lot of people have always told us that the reason our children were reserved (some more than others), wouldn't stay in classes, participate, cry when being dropped off, etc. was because we homeschooled, didn't get a babysitter, etc. Now look at our children! They are growing in confidence at their own rate (not from being forced) and are doing beautifully! They don't have a deer in the headlights look when there are changes and when they meet new people. I have seen public or private schooled children have more issues and have those issues longer than my children but no one commented on them. I just want to let parents know that a child being reserved is ok, there is nothing wrong with it. It is a personality trait and people love to be friends with them. We are the ONLY homeschooling family in our neighborhood. We don't see any children playing outside but when our girls go out and raise the garage door, the kids come out of the woodwork to play with our children. Why is that? I am not asking that question for an answer...I think homeschooling families know the answer.
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