A MOMENT: In the tree

At the park with friends, 

on a perfect spring day...

when...

 I looked over to scan for the boys when I realized Quint and Russell were climbing a very large tree. 

 It was a great climbing tree (lots of branches) but my anxious instinct was 

DANGER.  

I withheld my feelings and walked over to check it out. 

 I would expect this from Russell, but it was rare for Quint. 

 Russell was hanging out on the lower branches so I was not that concerned but Quint had ventured up fairly high. 

 Quint hollered down from the tree tops "Mom, look how high I am!" 

 He was beaming with pride.  

My typically overly cautious first born was free in the tree tops.  

 My anxiousness faded away and I began to beam with pride. 

 He was stretching himself:)   

Then, another little boy began to climb higher than him....and I watched Quint's competitive spirit kick in....

I could tell he was a little afraid (he was a good 20 feet up)  

but he would not let the other boy get higher than him.  

Love it.

I realize competitiveness is not always a good thing, 

but I am a big fan when it drives people to reach for their potential:) 

When he eventually came down he was so proud, and I was super proud of my cautious man scaling new limits....

literally:)