Friday, October 11, 2013

Letting go


'Your poor mother,' the health visitor cooed at Samuel during his one-year development review. 'With this kind of energy, when you get going she's going to be in real trouble.'

Sparks were flying from his feet as he bounced like a crazed Tigger and hung off a floor-mounted bead toy by his mouth. He giggled and lurched towards her. I immediately grabbed him under his arms to stop him falling. It was my natural instinct.

'Do you hold him steady when he's on his walker?' the health visitor asked.

'Of course,' I replied. 'He'll tumble over if I don't.'

'He might the first time,' she said. 'But then he'll learn. And he can do it. You just need to help him work out that he can do things on his own.'

I grumbled a little on the way home. The review had gone really well and Samuel was developing just as he should be, but I'm not a fan of being told what to do by health visitors. 

'I know my baby,' I muttered under my breath. 'And he just isn't ready to walk on his own.'

We got in and, just to prove my point, I immediately popped his walker in front of him. He grabbed it, I let go of him but got ready to catch him as he fell and ... he coolly and calmly walked to the other side of the room on it. No wobbles. No biggie.

He's growing up. I've just got to stop babying him and let him. 

It's made me wonder what else he might be able to do that I just haven't given him the opportunity to have a go at yet. James suggested that he might be able to pop down and collect the post for us by next week.

1 comment:

  1. I said the exact same thing as James when Zac started toddling but I'm still waiting for him to go and get the post. Still best he doesn't as he would only eat it anyway. Paper is his fav snack. Books, bills, mags, receipts, he chomps through the lot. I'm forever chasing him around the flat trying to remove soggy paper from his mouth. Why don't health workers ever tell you about these things, bloody useless bunch

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