The Night I Slept on a Trampoline and Let My Boys Be Brave
The Night I Slept on a Trampoline
and Let My Boys Be Brave
My boys and I finally fulfilled our lifelong dream of sleeping on our trampoline overnight. We were convinced it would be the coolest summer tradition ever. One of us was right.
On the night of our first epic trampoline campout, we set up the pop-up tent, hung the lantern, and piled on extra blankets for the chilly night. We kept the roof cover off so we could see the stars. I woke up a couple of times throughout the night to the sound of crickets and birds. Other than that, it was not bad at all.
The sun beaming in early woke me up, thirsty for my morning coffee.
My boys woke up all energetic and excited, raving about how awesome it was. They immediately started planning to make it a permanent summer setup.
I, on the other hand, was keeping a smile on my face while trying to get up and could not for the life of me turn my neck.
My neck, as stiff as a board, could now only turn left. Like a broken GPS.
Although it turns out trampoline sleepovers are not quite as comfortable as I had imagined, to my boys, it was the best idea their mom had ever come up with.
So I turned to my left to ask them if they were up for the bravery challenge of sleeping out there on their own.
Let's just say it was a win-win.
Here is what I noticed in that moment. My boys did not need me to make the trampoline comfortable. They needed me to show up for the adventure in the first place, to be willing to feel a little uncertain alongside them, and then to trust them enough to try it on their own.
Children do not learn courage by being told they are brave. They learn it by watching someone they love choose to show up anyway, and then being given the space to do the same.
The stiff neck was worth every minute. And the memory of my boys out there under the stars, on their own, confident and completely in their element, is one I will carry for a long time.
Summer does not need to be elaborate to be meaningful. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that happen right in your own backyard, with a lantern, a blanket, and a mother who can only turn left.
I would love to hear your ideas for a summer adventure in your own backyard. Share them in the comments below.
The moments our children remember are rarely the ones we planned perfectly. They are the ones where we showed up, tried something a little uncomfortable, and let them see what it looks like to do it anyway.
That is enough. That is everything.
Dr. Maria Grace Wolk · mariagracewolk.com