Hey there! Don’t worry; this isn’t one of those typical letters from an adult trying to give you unsolicited advice. You know the kind, right? The ones that lecture you about your outfits, your selfie habits, or how to flirt. Trust me, I’m just as tired of those letters as you are!
You might not recall our brief encounter, but we crossed paths at the public pool last week. I use the term “encounter” lightly since we didn’t actually exchange names. I had made a deal with my older son: if I jumped off the high dive, he’d perform his legendary cannonball. Sounded easy enough, right? But as I climbed those stairs and peered over the edge, I realized just how high that board really is!
The last time I leaped off a high dive was at 18, just a few years older than you. But 20 years can change a lot; suddenly, that board seemed like it was scraping the sky! I began to worry about wardrobe malfunctions, water up my nose, and the dreaded belly flop.
I noticed one of you saying, “It always takes me a few tries before I actually jump.” You stepped to the end of the board, hesitated, and then walked back. But after a couple of attempts, you leaped! A few minutes later, you were back in line with your friend, clearly proud of your bravery.
As I stood there, I watched younger kids take their turns, each one jumping off with glee. You two were their cheerleaders, encouraging each other as you prepared for your own jumps. Meanwhile, I was stuck on that board, frozen with fear.
For 20 minutes, I tried to summon the courage to jump. I reminded myself of all the hard things I’ve accomplished, and how I wanted to show my kids what it means to be brave.
With each attempt, you offered encouraging words. “It’s OK,” one of you said. “I get scared too. But after you jump, it’s kind of fun.” Your friend chimed in, “Just don’t look down! Look at the trees instead.” You both laughed as I joked about the song playing, “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty.
Eventually, I took a deep breath, walked to the end of the board, and jumped—after a few more false starts, of course. I heard your cheers as I hit the water, and I managed to shout back a heartfelt “Thank you!”
Later, as you walked past me, I called out my gratitude, but you were too busy laughing about something only teenage girls find funny. I tried to spot you in the crowd, but my younger son soon pulled me away for snacks.
As I made my way to the snack bar, my friend joked, “I bet you’ll write about that jump!” And indeed, I wanted to write not just about overcoming fear or doing hard things, but about the incredible energy and courage of you two vibrant teenage girls.
There’s so much chatter about teenagers today, especially young girls—complaints about how retailers market to you, discussions on how you dress, and debates about selfies and social media. Parents, like myself, strive to teach you confidence and self-worth, but we often overlook what we can learn from you in return.
You remind us how to be brave, how to take risks, and that sometimes, jumping feels like flying. You also teach us the power of patience and resilience. It’s a mutual journey we’re on together, and your courage inspires us to keep learning and growing.
So keep leaping into the deep end! Keep embracing life and all its challenges, because we’re right there with you, figuring it all out.
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In summary, the story of my high dive experience is really about the lessons we learn from each other at different stages of life. You, the teenage girls at the pool, are not just our future; you’re our present teachers.