One Giant Leap Past Shyland

When she first fell in love with the experience, she would ask to go to, "Betchtubles."

Last year she squealed, "Vegetables!" when we pulled into the parking lot.

This year, it's the "Farmers Market" that is her idea of a fun night out.

As much as Alexis has grown up, some things have stayed the same. She has always loved going to the Farmers Market. We walk up and down and back and forth, peering at vegetables and fruit and pastries and various other foodstuffs. She tells me how much she loves green beans and salad. We score some great deals on fruit that will vanish before I can even get it in the fruit bowl. We pull together a healthy dinner or two.

Before we leave, we always, always, always walk down to the man who makes and sells fresh kettle corn. The moment plays like a scene out of a movie, rewound and replayed over and over and over. There is never any variation.

It starts with the high-pitched request, "Can I buy some popcorn, please?"

I hand Alexis $5, grab her hand, and together we walk over to the familiar man in the corner. As we move closer, I gently urge Alexis to ask the man for a medium and to hand him her money.

Each time she agrees.

Each time she chickens out.

Just as the moment comes to make her request, she shoves the money back into my hand and buries her face in my legs. I reassure her that it's OK as I make the purchase on her behalf. I remind her that she needs to tell the man "Thank you." She whispers the words to him as we walk away, just before breaking out a huge grin as she clutches her kettle corn tightly.

Always the same. Always.

Until tonight.

Tonight the Big Girl took that $5, cautiously walked up to the man, and whispered, "I would like a medium, please," as she thrust her money towards him. Tonight the Big Girl bought her beloved kettle corn All. By. Herself.

As we slowly walked away, I struggled to pick my jaw up off the floor as the magnitude of what she had just done sunk into Alexis' consciousness.

"Momma!" she suddenly declared. "I did it all by myself!" Her words gushed with pride.

I might have been a little bit proud of her as well.

Comments

[Beth]

Awesome!

[pghrugbyangel]

I'm so proud of Alexis... maybe she won't hide from me when I visit/see her anymore? Doubtful... But GOOOOOOOO ALEXIS!

I think Alexis might be the first recipient of the "Good Job" cards I received today....

[Gina]

Yay for her! Believe it or not, I was a lot like Alexis at that age. A family friend called me Silent Sam for years. I KNOW!

[KJ]

Awwwww! Yay Alexis!

[Tired Mama]

Your tag line says it all.

[Momexperience]

She should be very proud as that is a huge milestone for her! I know my own girls can be so shy when it comes to that sort of thing. Amazes me how shy they do get when they normally are anything but shy. But something about doing such a "grown up thing" makes them crawl into their shell sometimes, other times they surprise me with how brave they are.

[To Kiss the Cook]

As though I needed another reason to love this kid. A farmer's market is my idea of a fun night out as well and I'm a little jealous that yours involves fresh kettle corn and is open well past 2pm.

[ExMi]

awwww yay! i feel all squirmy inside for you guys!

xx

[Jen]

Oh, I love those moments! Way to go Alexis!! And, way to go Momma, for not pushing, but allowing her to come around in her own sweet time.

[Indigo]

This post left me with a HUGE smile! She's growing up so dang fast. (Hugs)Indigo

[Tara R.]

I never thought a bag of kettle corn would make me tear up. That is awesome!

[Mandy W.]

It is wonderful to watch them grow up. Bittersweet but proud at the same time!

[BeckyD]

Yeah! That is huge! Good for her. I wouldn't have done that until I was a teenager!

[Jackie]

Can I be happy and sad about this moment? Another milestone reached and crossed off the list. Congrats. to Alexis for being such a big girl! I love love love this picture. One of the best shots I have ever seen of her.

[Crista]

I remember "betchtubles" :)
The ending made me tear up, too. Go Alexis!

[Katie in MA]

Awwwww! My eyes might have gotten a lil bit teary on your behalf. Way to go, mama, for letting Alexis grow up in her own sweet time. So proud of her!

[Otter]

I know that was a big moment for her. Hope she keeps on taking those steps further away from shyland.

[Twist]

Wow. She's got me beat. I'm 19, and sometimes I'm not that courageous.

[Jen]

GAH! She DID THAT???! Go Alexis!

Damn kids. Growing up. PSSSSHT.

[hello haha narf]

tell her the internet is proud of her, too!

[Cass]

I'm sobbing - that's so awesome. And I'm clearly having an emotional moment or something. Its so good to learn to ask for what you want - especially when that is Kettle Corn.

[Pittsburgh General contractor]

It's good to see her taken that big step of order her own kettle corn. As a parent I am sure you were very proud of her.

She's becoming a big girl and thanks for sharing.

[Dave (Scrumpy Daddy)]

Awesome! This story makes me happy!

[Elaine]

Aw, I'm so glad. Good for her!! :)

[Kelley]

so proud of her.

Give her a big hug from me.

[FireMom]

Okay. Did she grow a bunch in just the past week? Her pictures from this week are of some child I don't know. And she's apparently being awesome above and beyond her usual awesomeness.

Also? My kids adore our Farmer's Market, too.