Monday, June 27, 2011

If You Fall Off a Horse...

Sometimes I think I might have an accident prone child on my hands. He hangs off the dresser when I'm changing him, hangs upside down in his doorway jumper, and pulls up on things that are clearly unstable.

I know most of this has to do with the fact that he's just a baby and doesn't know any better right now, but I feel like he might be heading down a more adventurous path in life.

It scares me that he has no fear, because fear is what keeps you out of danger. I don't want him to be that 16 year old that goes down the highway at 100 mph weaving in and out of cars because he thinks he is invincible.

The other day he attempted to climb the stairs while I wasn't looking. The next thing I heard were cries. He had rolled down them. I'm not sure how many, but thankfully he wasn't hurt. After I had comforted him, I made him climb them again.

If you fall off a horse, you gotta get back on.

It's funny, I had been saying all along that a little fear would do the kid good, but after I saw exactly how scared he was when I went to pick him up all I wanted was for him to feel invincible again. I don't want his fears to hold him back in life.

You see, I'm a person who is full of fear.

I'm fearful that I won't say the right things, that I want do the right things, that I won't be good enough or smart enough or cute enough or whatever it is. These fears have held me back in life. I don't go for certain things because I'm too scared.

I don't want my children to be like that.

I hope that they will be confident and go for anything they want in life.

Fear is such a tricky thing.

Too little can cause your life damage, but so can too much.

Ethan, I hope you have just the right amount one day.


7 comments :

  1. This is such a great post! I don't have kids yet but I can imagine that I will want to protect them but also prepare them for life and all that it brings, which includes fear. I am fearful of probably way too many things, too. I hope my kids are able to have healthy fears!

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  2. I love this post. Well said, all of it. I'm sure he will have the right amount some day. :)

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  3. Ha ha you know Ethan is going be a rock climbing and going bungee jumping!

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  4. Like everything else in life, balance is key. Especially when it comes to fear. But it def. looks like you've got a little adventurer on your hands. Go Ethan!

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  5. This was really interesting to read. I agree with the comment above, balance is so important! My sister was similar when she was little and she was grown up to be fearless, but in a good way. She's not afraid to take chances and travel the world. A little bit of fearlessness is a blessing :)

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  6. What a great lesson. I, too, am filled with fear and I do not want to pass that on to Harlan.

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  7. I love this. Great perspective. You're such a great mom not letting your fears hold him back.

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