determination

Determined is not a word I would generally use to describe Rachel.  She's never really been determined about anything.  She can't ride a two wheeler because she's been too scared to learn.  Never mind that almost every other seven year old she knows can do it.  She can't swim because she's scared in the water.  She gives up easily when things are the least bit difficult.  

But yesterday she finally showed some determination, and I was (am) so proud of her, and if I can't brag here on my own blog, then where?!

Last week her friend Taylor finally figured out how to do the monkey bars at school.  This was one of those things Rachel wished she could do, but it was hard, so she never tried long enough to learn to do it.  But since Taylor could do it, she evidently decided she wanted to learn to do it, too.  So she spent the whole week at recess working on it with Taylor and a couple of other girls (the other girls would hold her legs so she could get across...I'm glad I wasn't there to see it, because I'm sure it probably wasn't very safe, and I would've likely had her stop!  

Well then yesterday in our backyard, all on her own, she decided to work at it on our monkey bars.  She did it over and over and over, until she finally was able to move one bar and then drop.  She was so excited!  But she kept working and eventually she could go two bars!  And then three bars!  The look on her face was priceless.  She was SO proud of herself.  She finally had to stop because her hands were on fire, but she really didn't want to stop.  Throughout the evening she'd go out and try one or two more times (her hands hurt too much to do it more than that).  She didn't get past three bars yet, but I actually have confidence that she'll keep working at it, since she's finally got some motivation.  

So proud of my girl!