My Little Daredevil….(err, Dirtdevil?) and His Sidekick…Caution Boy! September 12, 2007
Posted by Mrs Flipphead in Child Safety, choking hazards, family, kids, summer fun, too cute.trackback
Took the boys to the park today after eldest got done with 4 year old kindergarten. I have been taking the youngest while the oldest is at aforementioned kindergarten, so he has been practicing the fine art of diving head first down the slides.
This child knows no fear. I think he may have learned his lesson though. I was helping the oldest learn how to climb the last few steps of a “scary” ladder when I heard a soft thud from the other side of the piece of playground equipment. I heard the younger make a “huh, uh, huh” noise. I boosted the older up on the deck and hustled around to the other side to find my youngest standing, covered in damp wood-chips and dirt. As I started toward him, chuckling and asking if he was o.k., he opened his mouth and a pile of wood-chips spilled out.
Now, I feel bad about this next part, but I nearly busted a gut. It was like something out of a bad slapstick movie.
I helped him wipe the wood and dirt from his mouth and to his credit, he didn’t cry. He just stood there looking kind of stunned, like, “Where the heck were you?!”
He shook it off and went right back up on the highest piece of equipment, giving me a heart attack. He walked right across the suspended bridge and up a flight or two of metal steps and launched himself head first down the tallest twisty slide. Fortunately, it was a long enough fall to give me time to get from where I had been trying to get him to come back down and praying that I wouldn’t have to try to catch him, to the bottom of the slide. He scared himself enough that time, that he didn’t try it again.
Now, my cautious one never did go down the big twisty slide, but he went on all the others and went through the tunnels, etc. This is a huge leap forward for him. Four year old kindergarten is helping him to become more confident. I’m not sure he will ever be as adventurous as his younger brother and I think hubby can kiss any delusions of a football scholarship goodbye, but he’s coming along. He’s coming along quite nicely.
Flipp, my gawd – I’m soooo feeling for you! I can vividly remember when my twins started to walk (one at 9 mos, the other at 10 mos) and wherever I would take them, they’d wander into different directions. Also, at the park, they hadn’t learned the lesson to SIT at the top of the slide first before scooting down. I wasn’t able to take them (plus big brother) to the park by myself for fear one would just walk right off the top of the slide and seriously injur themself! My best friend had been nagging me to go with her and her toddler to a “fenced in park” where we would be “just fine”.
Reading your words about your little daredevil brought it all back to me! Lordy! The thought made my heart skip a beat! Thank goodness your older one isn’t a daredevil too! I love that he had a mouthful of woodchips; priceless! Sounds like it could have been an America’s Funniest Video winner!
OMGosh! Don’t feel bad. I laughed out loud at the wood-chip spitting too! THAT’S funny!
My son has always been more like your ‘cautious’ one. I’ve never had to worry about a rambunctious, devil-may-care boy.
Nope. That worry was passed over to my daughter. The girl has no fear. Oh, the stories I could tell! Let’s just say that she was walking at 9 mos. of age, and running by 9 1/2. You can imagine the terror from there. Nowadays, she’s an incredibly clumsy teenager. Clumsy because she doesn’t pay attention to where she’s going. She just barges on through life.
Deep breaths, Mrs. Flipphead. You’ll be taking many deep breaths.
I feel for you. My daredevil was my youngest daughter, Kala. She broke her arm when she was 3. My son has always been fairly calm, thank goodness.
~Sandy G.
Bella, Stacy, Sandy-As my boss said to me today…it never ends!
My little Daredevil was running by the time he was 10 months old. He started walking at 8 months, climbing things by 9 months.
Stacy-Deep breaths! You’re not kidding! The wood chip thing was hilarious. I wish I’d had the video camera.
Bella-Twins walking by that age? For the love of God….I’m so lucky mine are three years apart and I’ve got one that’s overly cautious. Heart trouble runs in my family…I don’t need to have one foot constantly in the grave. I don’t know how you do it.
Sandy-Thank God no broken bones yet. Having the older one be more cautious helped break me in I guess.
You guys don’t know the half of it. He climbs up the front of his high chair, over the tray and puts himself in it when he’s hungry. And when that tray finally gives and snaps off while he’s climbing it, he’ll probably just pick himself up and step over it to climb up into the chair anyway.
I remember when my son would go head-first down the slide. I used to have mini heart attacks every day!
Dana-I know what you mean. My heart lurches every time.
Thank goodness it wasn’t teeth he was spitting out!
Isn’t having little boys FUN?? Enjoy!
Peace and slides.
~ RS ~
RubyShooZ-No kidding! He’s already chipped a tooth and he’s only 18 months old!
You know, I really wanted a girl for the second one, but I wouldn’t trade either of them for the world!
I’m glad he is ok. I have one of those dare devils too who is now 13.
Rose-It’s a miracle they survive sometimes, isn’t it?
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
Idetrorce-I’m really not sure what or who it is that you are disagreeing with. Why don’t you be more specific?