You Have to Let Your Children Fall Down Sometimes
There are valuable lessons to be learned from stumbling along the way.
Around the time my daughter Emmy turned one, she began trying to walk. At first, like any other baby, she was cautious. Her tiny hands held onto all the edges of our living room furniture to pull herself up and keep steady as she took her first few steps. Her knees were shaky, not use to the extra effort it takes to hold up the rest of her weight. After three or four steps, she would lose her balance and fall to the carpeted floor.
Her diaper covered bottom would hit the floor, causing her to laugh or giggle. Emmy would get right back up and try again. She must get her stubbornness from her mother.
Each time she would fall, immediately, I would rush to her side, wanting to scoop her up in my arms and hold her, even though she was just fine.
There was no injury to kiss or tears to wipe away. Each fall would put me on edge, even though she was always less affected than me.
As Emmy quickly became more adventurous, I found myself hovering over her. After lifting her from her walker, I would place her feet on the floor to practice walking on her own, but instead of giving her the space to learn to walk, I stood close by. I loomed over her…
