9-month-old Jacob has learned to climb stairs. It’s nerve-wracking, and requires an adult’s presence nearby lest he slip and fall. He loves it, though, and often makes a beeline in the direction of the nearest stairway as soon as he’s put down. It presents risks beyond falling, too, because stairs seem attract a lot of debris. If I’m not paying close enough attention in addition to climbing Jacob also attempts to ingest sticks or elastic bands.
We have a small 5-step stairway between the family room and kitchen that serves as a ‘training course’ of sorts. There’s carpet at the bottom and it’s not that high, so the risk of severe injury is considerably reduced. This is where my 4-year-old Hannah earned her stair navigation stripes, and it’s where Jacob is earning his, too.
I love watching children learn new skills like this. Their tenacity is amazing. Failure doesn’t phase them in the least, they just pick themselves up and try again. And again. And again. It’s a good life lesson, I think, and it’s particularly apropos for me right now as I’m hemming and hawing about my life’s direction. What I really need to do is stop worrying so much about what might go wrong and instead imagine the possibilities. (Speaking of which, thanks so much to everyone for their kind words and support as I try to decide what to do next, it means more than I can possibly say).
Anyways, back to the subject at hand. Here are some photos of my little guy making his way to the top in pursuit of our cat, Dorothy.
And he’s off! The cat never stood a chance.
PS – If you’re in BC, remember to vote today. It’s fast, free, and super-fun! 
He’s adorable and it looks as though he is very fast!! You’ll be running fast after him for a while now!
Ahhhh, the joys of stairs. Amelia is quite a proficient stair climber now (usually in pursuit of her sister) and I frequently find her up around the bedrooms (2 stair levels up)
Now if she would just learn to safely come DOWN
voting? super-fun? What happens at your polling stations that doesn’t happen at ours?
What an adorable boy. I remember the fear of steps with my first son. Tyler is still too young to be climbing stairs but I know the fear will come back.
I so agree with you about stairs gathering debris. They seem to be a debris and dust magnet.
oh look at him go!!!!
Stairs! He looks so proud.