I can't do what they can do

This week I hit a new parenting milestone that I didn't know existed. When my children were born, they grew and learned things; how to sit up, how to walk, how to ride a bike. I taught them things, or Jason taught them things, even their teachers taught them things. I never really thought about it, but all these things I can do too. Then it happened. My children can do things that I can't. It feels odd, and yet makes me burst with pride.

This past weekend my seven year old, Ben, ran in a city-wide 2k cross country race. He ran it in 9 minutes 10 seconds and came in tenth against all second graders. His determination and focus was incredible, and it was so exciting to watch. As I watched him do it, I thought to myself how I couldn't do it. I'm not a runner, never have been, and there is no way I could have gotten this 37 year old body around that course at all, never mind in that time.

But that's not all. Ben plays the piano, and he's good. Really good. It's been a number of months now that he has surpassed my piano skills. And tonight as his instructor was leaving, she took me aside and said he is doing phenomenally. She is teaching him concepts she hopes fifth graders can grasp. The work he is getting is challenging, and she's afraid of burning him out at the age of seven. I'm supposed to watch for frustration and email her if I think she needs to slip in some easy fun pieces for him to work on. Again, my heart busts with pride, but in my mind is amazement. My seven year old child can do things I can't do.

Yes, I know, I could do these things if I wanted to, but will I? When both of these incidents hit me in a matter of days, I racked my brain for another example. I've been a parent for over 10 years, and as much as Noah is great at many things, they are things I can do.... hit a baseball, swim, etc. Maybe what I'm realizing is what I've known for quite some time. Ben isn't like me. Noah is like me. Ben is his own little person finding his place in the world. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and I can only imagine how the list of things my kids can do but I can't will grow.

Pretty amazing.