Baby Steps - A Reminder

Our vacation was great this year. We took a full week off work and did nothing, really. Because we didn't think we'd have a ton of money, Ken and I initially planned for a stay-cation. We were going to hit Hershey Park, the DC Zoo, one of the nearby state parks and do Ocean City for one day.

Well, as luck would have it my brother had a place in OC that he couldn't use for the full week, so we happily took it for some extra time at the beach. I'm really glad we did.

Kieran did not react well to the ocean the first time he saw it. It was big and loud and scary. He was nearly 2 and it still took him a few days to acclimate to it (on a cruise). Amelia was no different. When she saw the ocean for the first time she cried and screamed. She liked playing in the sand but did not want to be near the water.

I have nothing but great memories of the ocean. We went to Ocean City at least once each year as I grew up. I remember sticking my head under water and hearing the dolphins far out to sea, collecting shells with my grandmother and playing tennis with my grandfather. I wanted so much for Mia to love the beach at first sight.

Then Ken reminded me that baby steps are the way to go. Our second day there we spent the morning at the beach again. This time we were prepared to keep Amelia entertained playing in the sand while Ken & I took turns playing with Kieran int he water. But then, it happened. I looked up and Ken was standing behind me, holding Mia. She wasn't crying. Or screaming. She was just watching the water. Ken said he'd just taken one step at a time slowly moving toward the water. Once he knew she was comfortable where they were standing, he'd take another step.

And it worked.

Once she got over the sound and the sight, I dipped her toes in the water. She realized that it was like the pool - which she loves - and then tried to faceplant into the water. From then on she had a great time at the beach. We stayed for hours, the four of us, playing and laughing and getting sand everywhere. Just like when I was growing up.