Dare Devils

It is amazing how different 3 children from one family can be.



Gabriel (10) has always been a climber. When he was 18 mos, I heard him gleefully yelling, "No, no, no!" I ran to see him dancing on the table. When he was 4, he thought the best place to be was on top of the swing set. This set is very similar, except that our cover was flat.

He liked to stand on top of the cover and do a Peter Pan imitation. You know, where he puts his hands on his hips with his legs spread apart and crows? Well, Gabriel just stood up there looking like Peter Pan. If I was home, I'd get you some pictures, but I'm not home. Sorry.

He climbed to the top of a portable rock wall (like you see at fairs) when he was 4.

Then, when he was 6, he broke his arm falling from a tall metal giraffe climbing toy while holding a sword in one hand. He told me the reason he fell was because he wasn't using both hands to climb.

Then, when he was 8, he decided to climb from one 11th floor balcony to another.

On the other hand, he alienated all the kids in the neighborhood this past summer by telling them they were stupid for not wearing bike helmets.

Then, there's Xavier. Xavier loves speed. When he was 2, he had a 'motorcycle'. This 'motorcycle' had jets, a parachute to help brake, and was really, really loud (pretty sure he did some illegal modification to take the muffler off). Oh, did I mention it was invisible and imaginary?

Xavier has 2 speeds. He has full out and asleep. That's it. He also has 2 volumes. He has maximum and asleep.

Xavier loves to bike, skate, skateboard--anything with wheels that can make him go faster. He also prefers to take those wheels down bumpy surfaces. He rides through ditches, over rocks, whatever he can find.

BUT, he doesn't feel comfortable climbing. He doesn't like heights. He prefers to keep it low and fast. Gabriel prefers to be in control. When he's on wheels, he feels out of control. Where as, Xavier feels control when he doesn't have easy access to the ground.

Fortunately, they're both willing to try things. Gabriel does enjoy biking even though it makes him nervous. Xavier will go up the rock wall, which makes him feel extremely proud of himself.

I love being a parent. It's such an interesting experience.