Based on discussions with other parents I’ve found that when it comes to childhood progress, I have high standards as they apply to actual “completion” of milestones.  For example, I didn’t consider Justine able to roll-over until she could roll onto her stomach, and then back into the lying position.  Some “parents” ooh and ahh and call their friends and family and claim their kid has mastered the “roll-over” when in fact all their little offspring accomplished was to inadvertently fall off the Boppy pillow in no small part because of their parental negligence.  Not so with me – kid’s have to earn their accolades by adhering to my admittedly complicated and overly-ambitious measuring standards before I’ll boast of their accomplishments.

The relevance of this particular discussion to Justine’s recent classification change is that, in truth, Justine has been “toddling” for quite some time now.  Probably several weeks, or more.  She took her first steps between my wife and I a few months back, to our enthusiastic encouragement.  After a few weeks of the “Maggie Simpson-esque” stand, step and face-plant, she got braver, tackling longer distances, mastering shoes, and out-pacing some of the other competitors in her weight class in our weekly semi-illegal underground infant racing league.  My wife (and others) began to tell folks that indeed, she was now officially bipedal.  Not to me, of course.

It’s not as if I expected my one year old daughter to complete a “Wipeout” grade obstacle course before I’d declare that she was a walker (although frankly that would certainly prove the point, in addition to being great TV), but I wanted more than just a 10 or 15 foot jaunt, or a half an hour traipsing about the neighborhood with her walker, face agape in a wide smile of accomplishment.  No, I wanted some actual toddling, a no hand holding, “let’s walk all over the place and not fall every other step” trip around the yard.

And after the past few days, I can now say, without hesitation, that our little Justine is toddling about just fine.  She still may do it arms akimbo, in a zombie like fashion that can only make you smile (or in Woody Harrelson’s case, deck a paparazzi), but she’s a-walkin’ folks.  Watch your toes.

Up next – talkin’.  Once I hear her finish the last scene of MacBeth, we’ll be there…

- MWF -

Happy Fatherhood Friday to all, and to all a good day!