An analogy

We were at a friend's house yesterday and they have a small, steep hill leading down to their swingset.  Here is how my kids approached it. 

C:  He ran topspeed towards the hill and didn't slow a bit as he ran down it, wiped out, and cracked up, then got up and kept running. 

N:  He ran to the hill, took a look at it, then slowly walked down it. 

L:  He walked to the hill, stared at it for a minute, then turned around and inched down on his belly (like he used to on the stairs). 

This is the PERFECT analogy of how my kids approach physical situations (and in fact is their birth order!).  This is not always how they approach people, or new situations with new people, but more things like parks, playgrounds, museums, etc.  C is always the first to plow right in.  He tries the crazy stuff.  I trust his physical skills more than the other two boys.  N will follow, but more slowly.  With him, he is better at assessing the situation.  L, finally, just kind of plods along.  He'll do it, but it will be slowly and carefully, and after a lot of deliberation.  He is my clumsiest :) 

I loved seeing this, though, because it fit them so perfectly!