We have been waiting for this day to come, but now that it is here and our little baby son is walking, I don't know if I am ready for it. As I have stood by his side and watched him stand up and fall down and stand back up again I have started thinking a lot about myself as a parent.
In the beginning I jumped to pick him up every time he fell down. I jumped to save him from skinning that knee or stubbing that toe. But after all this happened nearly 20 times in the matter of 5 minutes, I had to ask myself, am I helping him by always picking him up? What will happen when he falls and I am not there? Will he get back up? Or, will he sit there until someone comes along to help him? Am I dooming him to a life of helplessness by constantly picking him up after he falls?
As I lay in bed that night...my back HURT! It was so sore from bending and stooping all day placing him back on his feet. It was then and there that I decided it was okay for him to fall, skin his knee, stub his toe, and struggle to get back up. It is all about learning to walk and steady yourself on your own two feet.
He is now really good at pushing toys around and doesn't need me as much anymore. I just stand back and cheer him on as he takes his 14th lap down the driveway.
Letting go.
In the beginning I jumped to pick him up every time he fell down. I jumped to save him from skinning that knee or stubbing that toe. But after all this happened nearly 20 times in the matter of 5 minutes, I had to ask myself, am I helping him by always picking him up? What will happen when he falls and I am not there? Will he get back up? Or, will he sit there until someone comes along to help him? Am I dooming him to a life of helplessness by constantly picking him up after he falls?
As I lay in bed that night...my back HURT! It was so sore from bending and stooping all day placing him back on his feet. It was then and there that I decided it was okay for him to fall, skin his knee, stub his toe, and struggle to get back up. It is all about learning to walk and steady yourself on your own two feet.
He is now really good at pushing toys around and doesn't need me as much anymore. I just stand back and cheer him on as he takes his 14th lap down the driveway.
Letting go.
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