Ditch Day

E's not even in Kindergarten yet, but today he had his first ditch day. It was to be his last day of daycare before starting Pre-K on Monday and I kept him out for a family day. He and I ventured downtown for breakfast at Matt's Big Breakfast, a quaint and oh so tiny restaurant that makes you feel like you aren't just one of millions, but one in a million. A place where they would remember you and know your name if you had the luxury of time and proximity to be a regular. It's just simple food prepared really well.

After breakfast, we swung back by the house to pick up T and take E to his first-ever water park experience. He LOVED it. I had my camera for a few shots, but had to put it away and enjoy the slides myself. He surprised us both after riding a few of the slides with the protection of a raft and one of us, with his request to brave the body slide (read: no raft, no parent to hold onto) by himself. I was thrilled he was willing to do it.

I watched my baby step into the pool of water and hoist himself up and look to the lifeguard for the go-ahead. He pushed off and it was me saying in my head, "WAIT! I am not ready for this! What if he flies off the slide? What if something HORRIBLE happens?"

And then I saw him bonk his head on the side of the slide at the first turn and then the water whisked him out of sight.

"Oh my God!" I thought to myself. "He's got a concussion and will drown in the wave pool!"

Let's not forget the wave pool is probably 15 feet long and 10 feet wide and there's a lifeguard in the middle of it. But I was crazed right now and all I could do was take my turn and get to the bottom of this thing as soon as possible.

I lay myself down, crossing my arms over my chest and free fell (or slid, I guess) down this monster slide. For a moment, I forgot my fear and just felt suspended, both quiet and chaotic, and yet completely relaxed. Then 8 one-hundredths of a second later the slide took it's last turn into a straight-away and I swear, I started sliding 300 mph. I crashed into the pool and struggled to pull myself up, catch my breath and make sure my bathing suit was still covering all the important parts.

It was then that I looked up and saw his gap-toothed grin and heard, "Let's go again Mommy!"