Hurling Down a Water Slide

There are many surprises that accompany parenthood. One of biggest is the sheer number of water slides I have hurled myself down in the past four years. I’ve never been particularly against the water park, but I can’t say I imagined myself a frequent visitor in my 40s, soaking wet as I bounce my inner-tube up another line. I guess this is what they mean when they say “reliving your childhood.”

My child is at the age where she is capable of doing so much and still wants to do it all with me. But who knew I would find it so much fun? For a “stuck-in-my-head” type like myself, activities that keep me in the moment (weeeeeeeee!!) are critical to bringing joy into my life. At the lifeguard’s cue, I’m splashing, spinning, speeding and experiencing mild vertigo before finding myself gasping for air as I’m slung into the pool of water at the bottom. All to look up next to me and see my kid’s head bobbing up and down, both of us laughing.

This superspeed mess of a slide I’m on matches the way I often feel about parenting. I have no idea where I’m going at any given moment, but I take all the twists and turns, darkness and light as it comes. My kid got her braces off yesterday, and suddenly her baby teeth were grown up teeth. Seeing her smile for the first time nearly knocked the wind out of me. I feel both like I was built for this and like I’m too emotionally sappy for any of it.

As my girl grows more independent, I have more time on my hands. It is a good thing, to find my way back to myself. And also to find myself slightly changed for the better. The me who screams for the joy and the thrill as we ride rollercoasters, slides, tubes… is the joy that can dim itself so quickly with the boring day to days. But here it is: a gift I’ve been given. I hope she continues to ask me on these adventures that take me out of my comfort zone and into my joy. Next time I’ll remember to take off my sunglasses first, though.