Walking outside

Bump! Thud!

Aren’t those sounds the scariest sounds you hear?

For me it is is. I hate those sounds. I am scared and worry what has happened to my son. Did he hurt himself badly? Will he be ok? Those questions were running around my head today.

Today we were all out in the garden. We were weeding the patio (not a glamorous job). James was off doing his own thing playing with a stick on a planter. Then he decided to run to us cause he wanted to help. However, when he ran he tripped and landed face first on our patio. He cried and cried. Tears running fast down face. He was frightened, he was in pain and most of all he wanted reassurance. I felt so bad and scared.

My husband scooped him up in his arms whilst I ran to get cotton wool with some water to clean him up, with those questions running through my head. I was worried. I was worried that he hit his head too hard. I was worried that he was in a lot of pain. However, I was mostly worried that he was angry with me. Angry that I let him run around in the garden. This made me feel more anxious and made me start to panic. I felt like a vice was around a chest.

I had to breathe.

So when I grabbed the cottonwool I took a big breathe in. It helped. So I ran immediately downstairs to cleanse his bump.

I managed to clean his bump and give him a lot of reassurance. I checked him over, being a nurse I knew what to look out for if he were to loose consciousness. I fed him as I knew he would want to drink either milk or water.

After his milk he quickly bounced back into action. He immediately turned back into his cheeky and mischievous self. I felt so relieved that his bump wasn’t more serious. I felt relieved that he quickly settled but I was more relieved that he wasn’t in a lot of pain. He didn’t cry after that. He didn’t show any signs of pain. There was no scrunched face, there was no clenching of fists. Instead, there was a cheeky smile and that twinkle in his eye.

He was fine. He was safe. He was close to me and he was happy.

I felt much more relieved. Relieved that he wasn’t in pain and relieved that he wasn’t seriously hurt. My anxiety calmed down and I could breathe easier.

When we are outside on our walks I am always beside him. Whether it will be holding his hand or his oversized hood (why do hoods always have ears)? So I at least have some control to stop him from falling and chasing cars and dogs. This is only when we are outside on walks. I wouldn’t do that in the garden. I am trying very hard to let him have the freedom and explore. Also to let him grow in confidence with his walking/running.

Ever since he was around 7 months he showed interest in walking and being like us. I wouldn’t want his determination to stop. I would hate that. So I try to maintain and promote his walking outside. I try to let him walk without me being so close with just a fingertip over his hood. I have used reins but I find it difficult to put them on James. They are just so fiddly. They take forever to put on.

So I bite the bullet and see if he would hold my hand or let me hold his hood. Most of the time he would let me hold his hood. If we are out somewhere else he would hold my hand. He wouldn’t hold anyone else’s.

I guess this shows that he trusts me and knows that I am looking out for him. I hope!

We go out for a walk daily encouraging him to walk. He would only walk so far until he wants up in our arms. We try to empower him to walk more but that is when he throws a tantrum and wants to stay up. So we either put him in his pram or his trike.

The both of us want him to feel confident when walking outside beside a road. Becoming aware of the traffic and listening to us and our instructions. I know that is a hard a stretch. However, I feel that this is best for him. I want him to be aware of his surroundings and how to be safe.

That is the most important thing of all. I simply want my son to be safe. I can’t keep him in cottonwool all the time.

So I am trying as much as I can to no longer keep him wrapped up. I guess that’s part of motherhood, right?

So I am putting this out there to all mums. If you have any tips on how to handle and promote walking outside, leave a comment and let me know. It would be greatly appreciated.

Hope you are all safe and well

• 

💖