All parents will swear that before their kids actually started walking, they were physically able to do so WAY before. Weeks, months even. The strength in the legs, the ability to stand for long moments, balancing.
Funny thing is, the babies will only do it when they are unaware; when they are busy walking to something they really want, for instance.
Once awareness kicks in – that hey, I’m walking! – they drop back on their butts and start whining. Or worse, tip over.
That’s when the gan-cheong spider first-time parents start to go: But WHY won’t she (or he) walk? WHAT is she so scared about? WHEN will she stop crawling?
These two kids of mine, if walking is any indication, they have very different psyches.
Day was what I think would be considered an early walker.
Ten months one week exactly, and he sprinted off the block, carefree and happy as a lark.
He didn’t look back. Clumsy plods, in a matter of days, swiftly became the pitter-patter of running feet.
He wasn’t afraid to fall. He didn’t look at the ground. Once he discovered he was capable of walking, he stopped thinking about it and started using his feet as a quick means to get to things he wanted.
It’s very easy to pinpoint the exact time he started walking because thereafter, he was on two legs all the time.
Dee. If we were asked now if she’s walking, our answer would be Hmmmm….
Nine months, three weeks, she took her first solo steps. Four, five steps at a time.
Well and good. We have been told many times that girls are supposed to be faster than boys.
Here’s the difference: She is dead cautious. Slowly, very very slowly (relative to her brother, that is), she is gradually building up her courage to venture further. Right now it stands at ten to fifteen steps. Half our living room. Before she chickens out.
Why we hesitate to say if she is walking, is because she prefers to crawl half the time.
Walking is still something she attempts with a measure of caution, something she’s still not that sure about.
And there is one more big difference: She loves holding one of my hands as she walks. I try to hide from her sometimes as she seems to think I owe it to her to lead her around like a dog on a leash. (Day never liked holding my hand, not even now, for the matter)
I’m not sure if it’s a boy-girl thing, or a character thing.
But I sure can’t wait for them to grow up, to see if any of this translates into their adult personalities!
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