On My Own Two Feet: Learning to Stand in a Big World

At the beginning of my blogging journey, I wrote a post about my first encounter with my own feet. How silly I was in those early days! Now that I’m a big girl who is learning to stand, I’m well acquainted with my own feet. They are no longer a mystery to me, and I know they are mine.

Getting my foot into my mouth is no longer a problem for me. I kick my feet to show that I’m excited, and sometimes just for fun. I know how to use my feet to push Mommy away when she goes overboard with the tummy tickles. I am even able to use my feet to nudge obstacles out of my way.

As far as I have come in getting to know my own feet, there is still one area that eludes me. I can see Mommy using her feet to get around. Why do my feet not do that? Do I have lazy feet?

I have been working on getting mobile for a few months now. With tremendous effort I am able to get to a toy I want. I can even chase after Mommy if I don’t want to be left alone. However, my mobility doesn’t look the same as Mommy’s.

Standing Tall

Just getting around isn’t good enough for me anymore. I want to be up there with the grown-up people. I am a big girl now and not a baby anymore. It’s time that these feet of mine smarten up and act their age. It’s time to get up and stand tall.

Unfortunately, my feet seem to disagree. As grown-up as I am, and as much as I understand my feet, they still have a mind of their own sometimes. I try to stand up as hard as I can, but my feet just won’t stay underneath me.

Sometimes Mommy sees me struggling and helps me out. She picks me up and puts me on my feet. Then she helps me keep my balance while I practice standing. I’m pretty good at this, and I can manage to stand there just by holding Mommy’s hands.

That’s fine practice, but it’s not the same as doing it on my own. Clearly my feet are capable of holding me up, but they won’t do it when I ask them to. I wonder how Mommy gets my feet to obey her. Why don’t mine listen to me?

Maybe my feet just need more time. Maybe they’re still learning, just like me. I keep trying, even when they flop and fold and forget what they’re supposed to do. I hold onto Mommy’s fingers a little tighter, then let go for just a second longer than before. One day, I know they’ll listen. One day, they’ll understand. Learning to stand isn’t just about muscles and bones. It’s about patience, practice, and believing that my feet will find their way.