"haf munkey"

The first entry is from the middle of last week, September 13th. Meg recorded that, "I made it to the number four monkey bars. I felt proud."

I should have remembered that playground accomplishment when I watched her illustrate her journal page a few days later. Because, to be honest, I had no idea what she was drawing. Adding one color at a time: Why a tan face and floating hand and foot? Then brown limbs extending to the already placed hands? And a black mouth joining the two sides? Perhaps a school lesson on race? Perhaps a Halloween costume plan?

It would take me until four words were printed to understand what she was putting to paper: "I am half monkey 'cause I know how to do all the monkeybars." Ah, half monkey!

Accomplishing such a feat, she asked if we could go to her school's playground and witness her skill. We did just that on Saturday. All of our little family stood back and watched her swing from one end to the opposite end. Her smile proved the emotion recorded in the first entry: PROUD!

As expected, we also smiled as proud parents. Sure, it's just monkeybars. Something she'll continue to get faster at through the year. Perhaps something that she'll tire of when the callouses and blisters get old. But, conquering this above-ground obstacle is a definite milestone of childhood! And, the fact that she took it on independently...among a crowd of peers at recess...rather than choosing to stand nervously on the sidelines is a big feat, indeed!