Today, I leave for a conference. The hotel  is exactly 4.6 miles away from my house.  I had to pack a bag for the next 3 days.  To stay in my own city–less than 10 minutes from my house.  Try explaining that to your 4-year-old.  She kept asking me what city I was going to.  They are used to me traveling, but have a hard time comprehending that I will be at a hotel near our house.

It is my organization’s Annual Conference and we all need to be onsite until Saturday.  Which I totally understand, it’s just so strange to have to miss putting my kids to bed, because I am in a hotel, in town.  At least if I forgot to pack anything, Bill can drive it over.

These next weeks are super busy and there isn’t a week until the 22nd that we are both in town.  I am gone (in town) 3 nights this week.  Bill is gone 4 days next week and I am gone 3 days the following week.  October is shaping up to be my least favorite month.  We do at least have a fun filled family vacation (whole family—mom, brothers, dad, bonus mom and us) at the end of these hard 3 weeks–3 days in the Bahamas at Atlantis.  I can’t wait.  But til then, it’s a lot of missing my husband and family.

“An act of God.”

Those are the words that actually came out of George Zimmerman’s mouth.  The death of Trayvon Martin was an “act of God.”  He says he’s sorry that Trayvon’s parents had to bury their child, but has no regrets–well because it was an “act of God.”

I keep saying thinking that it will either make sense or I’ll actually wake up.

I don’t understand how someone who was the catalyst for a situation can claim it was an “act of God.”  I don’t think lightening struck a tree that fell on Zimmerman that knocked his arm and caused him to accidentally pull the trigger.

He was told not to pursue Martin and he did.  He was told not to get out of his car.  He was told that the police didn’t need him to do that.  But he did.  Did God speak to him to get out of the car and carry out his own “old testament” version of justice?

I don’t think so.  To have the audacity to go on TV (not that Hannity is really quality TV) and proclaim the shooting of Trayvon Martin was an “act of God” epitomizes so much of what is wrong in this country.

Regardless of any other fact:

Zimmerman pursued someone after being told not to.
Zimmerman got out of his car after police told him not to.
Zimmerman pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger.
ZIMMERMAN PULLED OUT A GUN AND PULLED THE TRIGGER.

That is not an “act of God.”  That is an act of criminality.  There is a difference.

Watching my kids at the pool on hot summer days is a wonderful reminder of what childhood feels like.

The joy on their faces as they go to the end of the diving board and FLIP their little bodies off and exit the pools to cheers as the older kids look on tentative themselves to flip their own bodies off the diving board.

Noah and Zoe Flipping from Dawn Finley on Vimeo.

The pride on their faces as they rise up from the deep blue knowing they have accomplished something.  Know they feeling of fear, exhilaration and independence.  I can sit on the side and watch them spread their wings and fly.  It’s a scary thought for a parent–but for a child it is so empowering.

It makes me proud to be their momma.

Parenting at it’s finest.

So, my kiddo’s have become quite the daredevils.  Jumping off the diving board at the pool and everything.  But yesterday my sweet little 4-year-old (who only started jumping off the diving board on Sunday) and my somewhat danger adverse 6-year-old did flips off the diving board.  FLIPS.

Seriously, they are going to give me a heart attack.  But Zoë is only 4.  And she has only jumped off the diving board about a dozen times.  She was so excited to be able to do it–as it is what the big kids get to do.  She had to pass a swimming test–she’s an awesome swimmer.  Then she prepared for her first jump.  She excitedly got in line and when it was her turn…

…she flung herself off with fierceness (No hesitation–she ran and jumped). She swam over the the side on nearly a single breath and smiled.  And did it again and again and again.

I asked Noah that day if he was going to try a flip.  He said no–he wasn’t ready.  He is just now starting to get the hang of diving. Which I understand as I was never EVER brave enough to attempt a flip off the diving board.

So, they jumped and cannonballed and twisted in the air for over an hour on Sunday so happy with the rush of being a kid fling themselves out into the water.

Imagine my surprise when yesterday I get an email from Bill telling that the kids “did flips off the diving board.”  Imagine my heartache that I wasn’t there.  I didn’t get to see their first flips.  This hurt a little.  But here are my kids doing something I was never brave enough to do.   EVER.

So, all the talk at our house last night started like this “Mommy can’t do a flip.”  “Mommy is scared to do a flip.”  “We can all do flips….Well not Mommy.”  Followed by “Mommy you have to try to do a flip.”

“No I don’t.”  I said which was met with much making fun of me.

Yes, I encouraged Noah to try to do a flip.  I certainly didn’t imagine that Zoë would be doing one on her second day of diving board adventures.  Although, I don’t know why is surprises me–as she knows no fear.  But there is no way that I am trying to do a flip.  NO WAY.

It’s scary.  The whole idea of doing a flip is scary.  It freaks me out a little the my kids do them–I think it’s awesome–but I am not trying.

Skydiving anyone?