May 4: Trapeze

Since last summer, my daughter has been driven to independently travel across the swing set monkey bars. Over that time, she worked hard to just grab hold and swing a couple at a time. Gradually, she increased that number. Unfortunately, it always ended with the same result...her panicking in mid-hang, calling out for me or Mom to come rescue her. Well, you'll be happy to know she finally accomplished her goal just in time for the swing set to be removed from our backyard; which I wrote about on April 17. Anyway, now she's moved on to the trapeze, which to me is the one swing set feature that I always considered to be most detrimental to a child's health. Think about it, no matter how a kid uses this thing, danger is always lurking. If the child sits on top and swings, there's the risk of him slipping off and falling due to the narrow sitting area. And, God forbid if the child elects to hang from his legs, as his head is several feet above ground and one slip could wind up being a serious error (both to the child, but also in his parents' judgement). So, let's just say my wife and I are not overly excited about our daughter's new admiration. Especially since, up until today, my daughter's dismount while hanging upside down consisted of dropping to the ground hands first with the rest of her body plunging along behind her. Gravity, ouch! But, today, I was able to help her with what I guess is considered the proper trapeze dismount...the one where the kid puts his hands in both of those ring things and actually flips to leave the trapeze, hands still firmly grasped to the rings. My daughter nailed it on her first try. Of course, she then had to try another 20 times, much to my wife's dismay. I can only wonder what's next on her to-do list: bungee jumping from the top peak of the roof?