Go ahead, jump!

This picture is incredibly symbolic, ironic and bittersweet to me. It was taken last week. Kaila was at a birthday party and I had some coveted one-on-one time with Madan. We decided to go on a mile-long nature hike. It was fantastic. We hiked the trails, explored the woods, marveled at dragon flies, saw bees making honey and had fully-evolved rationale two-way conversation. Not to knock my daughter, but she's still on the "What day is it today? Saturday? Do I have school tomorrow?" track which is pretty much the road to nowhere. But, she'll evolve. Hopefully. Otherwise, I'm going to start sending her to school on Sundays to make the conversation easier.

Madan, on the other hand, is no longer a fumbling kid. He's growing up. He's got lots of ideas, opinions, can read my emails and is completely independent -- if you don't count cooking, tying shoes, driving and making money, of course.

So, the shot is symbolic because obviously I'm the rock and he's jumping the hell off, trying to get out of dodge as fast as he can. I don't blame him. I'd do the same. But, it's equally ironic because a few years earlier, I'd be running like a lunatic around the rock screaming, "DON'T JUMP! DON'T JUMP! LET ME COME GET YOU! IT WAS JUST FOR A PICTURE! DON'T MOVE! YOU'LL GET A HEAD INJURY!!" But, on this very day, after he climbed up the boulder and I snapped the shot, he looked then leaped. Something in my heart tugged. When Madan jumped, he was all boy. No more baby. He's growing up fast and I'm learning to let go -- albeit, slowly.

"Was it okay that I jumped, Mom?"

"Absolutely," I said. "You're ready."