There is such a balance when it comes to raising children, but especially toddlerhood. These little firecracker, wild people love to explore through their senses. Sometimes that looks like a big puddle on the ground and they feel the need to jump right in. My inner dialogue is always cursing up a storm, dreading the eventual laundry that is now an inch thick in mud, and wondering what kind of parasites are in that puddle. But yet, I keep my mouth shut. We have a rock garden where there's one pride rock looking guy sticking up. The kids love to climb it. My mind flashes to one of them tipping off, hitting their head on a rock, and getting seriously hurt. But then they wobble, correct themselves. Try it again. They see a beetle on another rock and their eyes flash--I know they're debating on how to get there and what their body can do and if they can jump it. They can't. But yet, I keep my mouth shut. The playground is full and there are tons of older children playing and running. Lincoln, the friend-maker at all occasions, finds a boy and starts to join. The boy starts to go on a ropes course, way out of Link's league, but Lincoln joins him, trying to copy the foot patterns and get to the top. He struggles and his legs shake, kicking to move forward. Sweat drips from his brow, but he pushes up, copying the older boy. He's going to drop to the ground, there's no way he can get up that quickly, he'll be embarrassed. But yet, I keep my mouth shut. Layla, the copy-cat herself, always trying to do what Lincoln does and go where Lincoln goes, jumps onto the couch and is trying to move cushions just like him to create a slide. She lifts it, says "too heavy", but when I offer help, she says no. She lifts it, finally, a look of confidence on her face, but then stumbles, rights herself, but stumbles again. If she falls off, she's going to hit the floor, maybe the edge of the couch, get sooooo mad because she's such a strong-willed girl.... But yet, I keep my mouth shut.
But I'm also the first one to tell them to try again. Face their fears. Figure it out. Adjust their method. TRY AGAIN.
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