What To Do With The Safe Child?

I've always been a little adventurous.  As a child, I spent my days playing in creeks, catching crawdads and tadpoles, riding down rivers on make-shift rafts, riding ponies, swimming, fishing, playing ball with the big boys, etc.  Even as I've aged, I'm always game for something.  If Mike said to pack my bags today, I'd head out to hike or camp for days or weeks, travel across the globe with no agenda whatsoever (Mike wouldn't ask that of me, but I'm just lettin' you know what I'd do).  So, since I have a little girl who would rather sit in a house most of the day, it is a little disheartening.

I feel badly for Ivy.  She is quiet, shy, not up for adventures.  For example:  Today, we headed out to a camp with a bunch of kids from co-op.  There was a huge rock wall, and even huger zip line.  Other 8-year olds and younger tackled them both.  Ivy sat and watched.  While other girls, whom she knew, played on noodles in the pool and jumped off the diving board, Ivy quietly walked around in the shallow end. Despite the lack of participation with girls other than her sisters, she said she had an "awesome day."  At times I feel like she is missing out on all of the fun.  At home, I watch her creeping ever-so-slowly on her bike, training wheels intact.  During her swing time, she never goes very high.  And roller coasters?  I don't think so!  Even when Seth gets a little wild with the girls and throws them around, she is the first to scream, "No!" when he gets them spinning.

Ivy is quite fun and playful, but she is usually pretty calm about it all.  I told Mike the most spunk I've seen from her was the day we met, and she screamed when she was finally left alone with me.  I hope that experience did not zap the zeal right out of her.  She is a smiley, happy girl.  The best way to describe her is "safe".

I've repeatedly encouraged her to participate, yet she doesn't.  I give her opportunities in various settings.   Sometimes I think I should just leave her alone, and she will do what she is comfortable doing.  Other times, I want to push her to participate.  I struggle.  She is unlike all my other girls and me.  For me, as long as I know that she is happy, then I am happy, regardless.  You would think that after having her home over a year, that I would have it all figured out...but I don't.  Maybe I'm the one struggling, not Ivy.

Playing it "safe" at the playground

Jack, rock-wall climbing and zip lining.