Our daughter pushes the limit constantly on what is considered acceptable play. She is always jumping off of something or running as fast as she can with no regard for what is ahead. She really seems to have no fear, with the exception of loud noises. Things that used to make my toes cringe now don’t even make me look up from what I am doing. In addition to this absence of fear she has a high tolerance for pain...probably a fortunate combination when I think about it. My husband and I were convinced by age 2 she was going to ruin her knees jumping off of things before she could turn 3. A common saying in our house is “if you are going to act foolish you better learn to be tough” ok, if I’m totally honest, the saying really goes “if you’re going to be stupid you better also be tough”. She has the tough part covered. Playing with her 12 year old brother is one of her favorite things! They wrestle and tackle each other and I know this has attributed to her thick skin. She doesn't fixated on pain or injury. Every shot she has ever had she cries in the moment and the second it is over she is fine, tears dried and on to the next event, obligatory sucker in hand. The absence of fear is most likely attributable to her genetic condition. Her micro-duplication on 16p13.11 is mostly behavioral and this seems to be a factor. While we have gotten used to her lack of fear there are times it is troubling, like for instance,when she wants to jump from our kitchen island, or stick her head through a hotel balcony. Or, my personal favorite, run as fast as she can away in a public place. And it may be useful for me to point out that she can certainly outrun us. Not to be bad or mischievous, just because that seems like the most fun. For this very reason she is often in a stroller or has on a backpack leash. I remember thinking “the poor kids on those leashes”, now I proudly walk my daughter around the park or at one of her siblings sporting events leashed and even, to my mortification, crawling on the ground on occasion like a dog. I couldn't care less about the side glances I get, because they have NO idea. What seems outwardly if not cruel, certainly overprotective is really the only sane way we can be at a ballpark or in a crowd of people. Otherwise I couldn't even fathom taking her. My child is strong willed, very strong willed. More strong willed than most toddlers I have ever met. It is not as simple as me telling her not to do something. Actually very recently we discovered if I tell her why she shouldn't do something it has much more impact. “Don’t jump off of that chair because you could fall and bleed and have to go to the doctor”. Just telling her not to jump because she could get hurt is not enough. She needs to know how it all plays out. Maybe it is because she isn't afraid of actually getting hurt, but the idea of bleeding and having to go to the doctor is a deterrent, at least usually. We aren't actually afraid of the doctor either, good thing too since we see so much of them. Nothing broken yet....fingers crossed!
Our daughter pushes the limit constantly on what is considered acceptable play. She is always jumping off of something or running as fast as she can with no regard for what is ahead. She really seems to have no fear, with the exception of loud noises. Things that used to make my toes cringe now don’t even make me look up from what I am doing. In addition to this absence of fear she has a high tolerance for pain...probably a fortunate combination when I think about it. My husband and I were convinced by age 2 she was going to ruin her knees jumping off of things before she could turn 3. A common saying in our house is “if you are going to act foolish you better learn to be tough” ok, if I’m totally honest, the saying really goes “if you’re going to be stupid you better also be tough”. She has the tough part covered. Playing with her 12 year old brother is one of her favorite things! They wrestle and tackle each other and I know this has attributed to her thick skin. She doesn't fixated on pain or injury. Every shot she has ever had she cries in the moment and the second it is over she is fine, tears dried and on to the next event, obligatory sucker in hand. The absence of fear is most likely attributable to her genetic condition. Her micro-duplication on 16p13.11 is mostly behavioral and this seems to be a factor. While we have gotten used to her lack of fear there are times it is troubling, like for instance,when she wants to jump from our kitchen island, or stick her head through a hotel balcony. Or, my personal favorite, run as fast as she can away in a public place. And it may be useful for me to point out that she can certainly outrun us. Not to be bad or mischievous, just because that seems like the most fun. For this very reason she is often in a stroller or has on a backpack leash. I remember thinking “the poor kids on those leashes”, now I proudly walk my daughter around the park or at one of her siblings sporting events leashed and even, to my mortification, crawling on the ground on occasion like a dog. I couldn't care less about the side glances I get, because they have NO idea. What seems outwardly if not cruel, certainly overprotective is really the only sane way we can be at a ballpark or in a crowd of people. Otherwise I couldn't even fathom taking her. My child is strong willed, very strong willed. More strong willed than most toddlers I have ever met. It is not as simple as me telling her not to do something. Actually very recently we discovered if I tell her why she shouldn't do something it has much more impact. “Don’t jump off of that chair because you could fall and bleed and have to go to the doctor”. Just telling her not to jump because she could get hurt is not enough. She needs to know how it all plays out. Maybe it is because she isn't afraid of actually getting hurt, but the idea of bleeding and having to go to the doctor is a deterrent, at least usually. We aren't actually afraid of the doctor either, good thing too since we see so much of them. Nothing broken yet....fingers crossed!
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