The Climb...

Today, I discovered that my 16-month-old son can climb stairs. He had never attempted it before, but today I suddenly realized he was not just at the foot of the staircase, but four or five stairs up it. He is not merely crawling up the stairs; he will lean against one a few steps higher, step up, then stand there for a second before repeating the process. This is at once amazing and terrifying. I am glad he has figured it out--it is a wonderful physical milestone--but I am afraid one day he will do it when I am not right behind him and fall down the stairs. That's when the bottom-of-the-stair gate will come out, I suppose. 

What can I learn from this? First of all, I need to sharpen my maternal instinct of noticing when it's too quiet in my house. Second, I can remember what gusto and bravery my son mustered up with which to undertake the seemingly-insurmountable staircase. He must have been thinking about conquering it for days, even weeks, in order to best that mountain. Yet he waited, biding his time, for the perfect opportunity to strike. And succeed he did, without any apparent fear. He has a lot to teach me, I can see it already.

Don't be shy, lurkers, you may post your haiku anonymously if you wish. I want to read what's been dancing in your head for the last week. I will post the new Challenge tomorrow.

Haiku News

Teenager accused

of mutilating pet cats;

was it worth it, punk?

They're "not breaking glass,

they are breaking tyranny."

Wear green tomorrow.

Hunch.com will help

if you're stumped on which movie

to see next weekend.