Leading and Loving It

While on a recent trip to the East coast to visit my family, it came time for the boys’ annual kayak trip. I was going along for the kayak drop off when I decided that I wanted to get my picture taken in one of the kayaks. With the kayak on the comfort of dry land, I sat in it and smiled for my picture. My sister said a kayak picture on shore looked ridiculous, and to get into the water with it.  She assured me that I would be fine.   My palms began to sweat right away; I am not into the whole river and kayak adventure like my family.  But I knew that she was right, how silly to take a picture sitting on dry land and besides the river didn’t look too fast.  (Plus, I’m the middle child and a sucker for peer pressure.)   I took the kayak to the river as my brother and sister helped “get me in the water.”  I would love to say that it was awesome, but as the kayak moved in the water, I realized I had no idea what to do.  As my siblings yelled out directions on how to turn the kayak around, I felt myself moving further and further down the river.  I grabbed onto a rock and yelled for someone to come help me. I could hear the roaring laughter as my siblings and husband watched me get more nervous.  Then I saw him. My dad had come through some trees and with a calm voice he told me how to get turned around and back to the drop off.  Snap, the Kim-in-the-kayak picture was taken.  I touched dry land safe but embarrassed.  On the ride home, my dad insisted that it wasn’t a big deal.  Then he said these words, “Kimmy, you had nothing to worry about, I would have come in and got you if you needed me to.” It was a silly moment (with a bit of self-admitted overreaction on my part)  but nonetheless a moment that made me realize that even at my age, my dad will do anything for me, including jumping into a river!

Can you share a “parent moment” that you will never forget? What are you doing to create “parent moments” with your own kids?