As the proud mother of a fearless kid, I am quite familiar with fear and anxiety that other parents, floating in my same shaky boat as me, feel on a daily basis. Having a fearless kid can be terrifying. You know what doesn’t help the situation? Having people constantly comment on my child’s obvious disdain for gravity. I can attest to the things parents of fearless kids are tired of hearing from the oblivious onlookers gazing at our rebellious little renegades. To those people I say (kindly, of course) that I would like to explain the eternal struggle of raising fearless children so that, maybe, you don't say those things again.
You see, having a fearless child means that I basically double up on my own fear. Every time my son carelessly falls off of the couch or the dining room table or the kitchen counter, I speak 100 prayers in between his leap and his landing, praying that this won’t be the time he breaks his arm. So far, and as I say this as I’m knocking on wood, he hasn’t inured himself terribly. He’s gotten better at sticking his landing like the ninja he aspires to be, and I’ve come to terms with my anxiety and, in a way, become quite accustomed to my son’s acrobatics. I try my best to give him enough room to grow, while also hovering just close enough to save him from any possible catastrophes. I have accepted this struggle as a part of my life.
So, if I can accept my child fearless antics, other people who aren’t keeping an eye on him 24 hours a day to make sure that he doesn’t impale himself should be able to accept them, too, right? That’s just not the case though, because I’m still hearing the following nine things about my fearless child, and honestly, I just don’t have time for it. No, seriously, my kid is about to do a cannonball off of the couch.