School of Hard Knocks

Man, kids learn stuff the really hard way. Right around their first birthday, both Ethan and Justin decided that if they tried really hard they could fall in a controlled way forward and be caught by a caring adult. We call it taking a first step, but it was very unlikely really controlled motion. I can't really imagine the trust that this involves from them, and I often this trust is misplaced. Especially given that the caretakers are almost always outnumbered by children to watch, this means there is the constant *THUD* sound followed by a pause and then wailing and crying over the latest encounter with the floor.

I'm sure every parent sees the same thing and goes throught this same horrible sense that they have to let their kids learn by knocking themselves around but it's so sad a pitiful. I'm glad they have the will (or lack of good sense) to keep trying. Ethan and Justin both have progressed to the point that they can take a few steps and most often don't fall on anything but their butt if they go too far. Ryan's taken a step at most, but seems to be very content with crawling about. He collapses in a heap if you try and get him to walk on his own.