Miss Grace got to attend a birthday party this weekend, at a Rock Climbing Centre. Much like I would be, she was dreading it. She last went when she was five and only tried to climb one wall and go about a metre off the ground, with me holding her!!
This time, she is older, more aware that her friends will be doing this, feeling more pressure to give it a go, but also really scared! We chatted about giving things a try, how safe it was, and set ourselves a goal of climbing up to my height.
Man I was so proud of her, she gave it her all, she didn't give up and she reached her goal. There were nerves and quiet tears but she did it!! She has a great friend Izzy who is an amazing cheerleader and so supportive.
It was also cool to see how Grace interacts with her peers, and the tools she uses to fit in and feel comfortable. The quiet signals she gives me when she needs support. Growing up is hard, I hope she can keep a supportive group around her to have her back and allow her to be herself. I know I was lucky enough to have that and it made the journey through the teenage years that much easier!!!
