As you might have remembered from earlier this week, I wrote about my middle daughter taking a growing up step by helping move my china across the house.  In a few weeks, she’s going to need to take another big growing step up.

When my oldest comes home from her surgery, she’s going to be moving around pretty slowly.  She will be restricted in a way that she won’t be expected to do her usual chores for several weeks.  I know everyone’s
been expecting and waiting for it to happen, but it will be different when it actually happens.

While it’s unpleasant to think about my older daughter’s discomfort in the near future, it’s also hard to picture it right now.  She is as bouncy as ever with endless energy and strength.  So right now, our middle daughter’s need to step up to a higher level of responsibility is mostly just an idea.

She’s already been practicing a little, enjoying the new task.  But I think it will mean something completely different to her when the idea finally meets the reality before us.  My oldest will be sitting still, perhaps feeling pain, and obviously not showing her same vim and vigor.  The gravity of the situation will hit her and she will need to decide – am I really ready for this quick growing up step?

This whole surgery thing is nothing that I would wish on my oldest daughter if it wasn’t totally necessary.  However, I am seeing some opportunities for growth for each of the kids.  My middle can take on some tasks she’s been dying to try.  My youngest can officially move up to the “number two” helper.  And my oldest will find out how patient and creative she can be when she can’t do what she wants to do.

Some growing up steps you take when you think you are ready, and some you take when you aren’t ready.  Nonetheless, it’s a chance to see what you are made of.  And funny, those growing up opportunities still seem to come at you even when you are a big person.  Wonder what growing up steps I’m going to be taking over the next several weeks?

Comments

This post currently has one comment or trackback.
You can read the comments or leave your own thoughts.

Trackbacks

No trackbacks yet to this post.

    Last reviewed: 12 Jun 2009