Jack Be Quick

Jack eating cupcakes on his 1st birthday.
A rare treat, as mom limits his sugar intake.

A friend of mine gave me the greatest compliment today. She told me that I was one of the best stay-at-home-moms that she knows. I found myself remembering that compliment as I watched my 1 year old eat a sticker. It was a small sticker.

Maybe if Jack weren't such a rough and tumble little boy, I'd be more protective. Maybe I would be more so if Jack had been a girl, but I find myself letting him learn through natural consequences.

It doesn't matter how many times I say "no."  It doesn't matter how many times I pull him off the fireplace saying "danger" or try to distract him with other toys. Jack is going to smile and do it anyway. Plus, Jack learns best when he learns on his own.

For all of you who are about to call CPS, I still save my son from falling... most of the time. I just don't think it hurts too much to let him fall 5-inches from his cushion. At some level, it's important for Jack to discover a healthy respect for gravity. I'd much rather he learn from 5-inches when I'm watching than from the coffee table (which he managed to get atop of this morning) when I'm not looking.

I'm pretty sure Jack will wind up with some scrapes and bruises over his lifetime. Sometimes I'll save him, and other times I will just be there to kiss the boo-boos.