A step forward

Last week I wrote about the challenges of waiting. I had two interesting responses to that.

The first was from Matt’s physiotherapist, Pam, who phoned to encourage me and also to advocate on Matt’s behalf. She shared how she had observed that Matt, despite me not being able to see it, was in fact very interested in walking. He is very busy practicing and perfecting the various components required for walking. She also explained that child learn in different ways – some think through and plan the task, only attempting it once they are certain they can accomplish it; others just dive in, regardless of whether they will get it right or not, and learn by trying and making mistakes along the way. Matt falls into the first group. She encouraged me that he will walk when he feels he can do it, and then he will walk well.

The second response was from Matt. I joked with Pam that I think Matt had read by blog because the day following my post he showed me that he thought the idea of walking was very appealing in deed. That afternoon my dad visited us and spent time encouraging Matt to push the walker. Matt was very enthusiastic about this as long as my dad held him from behind. (Until that day Matt had not shown any interest in the walker whenever I had offered it to him!!) That evening I put Matt down in front of the walker, he grasped the frame, pushed it forward, walking independently from me! I was astonished. Matt was thrilled with himself (so cute). He pushed that walker with such grace and poise it looked like he was well experienced – just as Pam had said he would.

Matt has been pushing that walker around the house more and more each day. Here are some photos of the soon-to-be-walking boy from this afternoon’s play time.