We’ve been
raised in this society to compete and compare and over achieve and unfortunately
as parents we carry that into raising our children. I want to take a minute
here and reassure each and everyone one of you, including myself, babies
develop at their own pace and milestones don’t follow a certain pattern no
matter what the books or your own mom has to say.
For myself this
comparison really came to light when we moved back to the small town of
Brownfield, AB and our daughter became one of nine babies under 1 year of age
in the community. My first instinct was to brag about the new teeth, her saying
mom and the copycat games we love to play. Then I noticed that the majority of
the other babies were crawling. Let me share with you the
pure devastation I felt when ours was ‘left behind’; I went home cried and
called my mom for a little reassurance and support. After many hours of tears,
loving words, and my own reading I finally calmed down and gave that amazing
bundle of mine the biggest snuggle ever. A few weeks later I learned that those
babies who crawled had older cousins or siblings and all they wanted to do was
keep up with the pack. Given that our girl is the first for both she may not
crawl as early as the rest, but I have no doubt that she will excel and be
amazing at everything she tries in life and that disappointment is just a bump
in the road to overcome as a family.
The most
important part is to love that bundle of joy, encourage development with play
and talk to your health care provider if you’re truly concerned that junior is
falling behind.
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