Falling Down

First, here's an adorable picture because I know ya'll just come here for the cuteness.

Second, go read this.

Please Don't Help My Kids 

I don't know this woman, but I'm pretty sure I would like our kids to play together.

Sometimes I feel like a monster when I let Claire fall down. Now granted, if I can tell that a fall is going to be a really bad one I step in. Enough bad falls are going to happen even when I'm trying to be careful that I don't need to tempt fate by ignoring the ones I can prevent. The giant red mark on her forehead from this evening and the day old bruise on her cheek are testament to that. I do believe, however, that the pain of falling is teaching Claire to be a better walker, climber, crazy adventure baby, etc. For the last few days I've been letting Claire out of her stroller during our walks. She lasts about ten minutes before she's tuckered out and I make her get back in. During these strolls she falls down sometimes, and when she does I don't lend a hand. Instead I encourage her that falling down is OK and that she should get back up now. Luckily I don't pass too many people in these moments as I'm staring at my baby who is struggling to find her feet again.

While seeing Claire fall down makes me feel bad, seeing her struggle with other tasks just makes me happy (I know I'm a monster and Baby Claire is my victim). I love to watch her little muscles work as she tries over and over to pull herself up onto something new, though when that new thing is the ottoman or the TV stand I'm less amused. I love seeing her work to develop her little muscles just as I love to watch her little face as she tries to figure out how to get around whatever new impediment has come across her path. Even better I love rejoicing and clapping with her when she successfully gets over a new hurdle.

Sure I'm probably not quite as hardcore as this lady. Claire isn't Ender Wiggin after all and I hope that when the dark times in her life come she won't find herself having to face them utterly alone. I do hope though that if and when she finds herself in a tight spot, my choice to let her get frustrated and sometimes fail will give her a stronger character to deal with the situation. Oh snap, I even know a biblical reference to back this up. It's a personal favorite, and I'll just end with that because I certainly can't trump the Big Guy.

James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.