My boy is 16 months old next week. I feel like we have already been on an enormous journey together. I have to be honest, I had a feeling of detachment from my little baby boy, for quite a while. I got my head around being a mum by the time he was 3 months, began to REALLY love him by 6 months, and out and out adoration by a year. There is no doubt that there has been, this mystical bonding thing. We are attached.
My boy would go where I went, do what I gave him to do. I’ve haven’t felt sentimental about ‘my baby’ growing up, I’ve been thrilled to see him walking, running growing, and while I still relish those few seconds when I can grab a cuddle, I don’t miss those days when I cradled a little baby in my arms.
But now he doesn’t go where I go, he goes off in the other direction. He doesn’t do what I tell him to do, he does something else. He has a will of his own, his own likes and dislikes. I’m teaching him to hold my hand, but I’m also having to let myself, let him go.
This all sounds very dramatic, he is only 16 months old, but it has come as a shock that the person I have done my up-most to protect, now wants to be free! His wilfulness both annoys and fills me with pride. I must keep reminding myself that he is testing life, trying things out, learning – and that’s good! (as long as he holds my hand when we’re on the pavement)






