It all can change with the right pair of shoes

Usually when I talk about the Mud Puddle I do so with broad strokes and over arching themes: things that take a while to percolate and bubble up to the surface. Patterns and actions that form over TIME. Today, my friends, we are going to cover a day (actually three hours) like no other, a day (evening) when I realized he had shed every last layer (as Shrek would say: “like an onion” and as donkey would counter: “what about a parfait? Everyone loves a parfait!”) of his baby-ness and toddler-ness and become a full fledge boy.

As we have covered in past posts the Mud Puddle is a swimmer, therefore he takes swim lessons. I don’t know that he learns a lot but it gives him a chance to swim the length of the pool two or three times every week. So last week we started a new session and he is now a Ray (your aquatic name represents your ability level: he graduated from an Eel to become a Ray I think Starfish is next). After the obligatory going over of the rules (which the Mud Puddle paid no attention to whatsoever as he was gazing longingly at the water sitting mere feet away) his new teacher called them over to the blocks (starting blocks they use for swim meets and such) to go ahead and jump into the pool.

Now, the Mud Puddle LOVES jumping into the pool just not from any real height – props to him he is the only kid in the class without a bubble but he had as yet not tackled a ‘big’ jump into the water. That all changed on the first Ray day. He stepped to the front of the line, climbed the block without hesitation and cannon-balled into the water getting his classmates and his teacher wet. He climbed out of the water with a big grin on his face and gave me the thumbs up. He jumped off the block three more times (the final time cutting in front one of his classmates who was not paying attention). This in and of itself, exciting but not life changing. But wait, there is more!

So after swim lesson we headed off in search of dinner. We usually do take out on Thursday nights but since we were going solo (Scott had other plans) I decided we could eat in somewhere (he is obsessed with eating in and will rope any unsuspecting dinner companion into going in instead of hitting the drive through).
But first we had to stop and get the Mud Puddle some shoes as he had worn holes in the two pair he was currently wearing. We swing up to Old Navy and take a look at their sneaker selection. To my surprise his feet have grown AGAIN and he is now a size 12 (which is good b/c his Uncle Quentin has hooked him up with some really nice sneaks that fit him now). Let me give you some perspective on why this is significant. The age range listed with the size 12s at Old Navy are 6-7. So the average six year old wears this size – not a 4 and a half year old. His best friend is about his height and wears a size 9. The Mud Puddle has very large puppy paws and is one size away from ‘men’s shoes” (sure, I don’t’ know any men that wear a 1 but still, it is a milestone).

Ok big feet and no fear of jumping off the blocks. Good, but the clincher was to come. Conveniently located next to Old Navy is Burger King the current home of the best kids’ meal toys in town: Spiderman 3 paraphernalia. So we go in, get our orders (and his crown) and sit down to eat. We are facing the beverage machines while eating and chatting. All of a sudden the Mud Puddle informs me “Mommy, that sign says Fresh Coffee”. Which it did but how the heck does he know that??? So I ask him to read me some other things and he gets Diet Coke and Ice and SpiderMan. Holy crap! He is reading big words and not just stuff he has memorized. Is he ready for “War and Peace”? Heck no, but he has taken a giant leap forward in his literacy quest.

All of these events transpired over a couple of hours and left me happy, proud and a bit melancholy. But I quickly got over that and got back to the business of enjoying our time together.