Grit... and Bravery (with a touch of tears)

My youngest, who is 23, is job hunting in a world that is nothing like the healthcare field I have been in for so long. And all she talks about is how to describe to potential employers that she has "grit". I'm not sure what they are looking for but I promise you she has it.

Last weekend we went to her college town to watch her do something 99.9% of you would never do. She jumped out of an airplane 5 years ago on her 18th birthday so its NOT that... its waaaay further outside the box. It took a lot of courage, bravery, dedication and grit and probably a bit of crazy. She's infinitely thankful she did it but the jury is still out on how I feel. As a mother it is hard to let your child make their own decisions and work with the consequences. Its harder to watch your child fail while putting forth a lot of effort.

As a parent of a child of any age, you are helping your child to develop coping skills and that takes grit and bravery from both sides. When your child is struggling in his development of any skill you will need to guide them and give them some help. With a 0-24 month old this normally looks like crying. Its a sensitive subject because I know all too well that when my child cries its like someone is kicking me in the chest. It can take my breath away. It makes me panic and lose my normally level headed demeanor. I see it all the time in my therapy sessions. Your child is doing something she has never done (ie. rolling over, crawling, walking) and it is scary. Crying is their only form of communication. My job is to help you give your child confidence in their motor skills. I have seen it time and again - the crying will stop when they understand the point of rolling over or being mobile. That's when I see how brave your child (and you) are becoming. You're teaching your child more that how to sit up. You're teaching them how to learn hard things, how to take control for themselves and how to have grit. This skill will continue to serve them their entire life.

If you have questions about how to facilitate gross motor skills, a pediatric PT is your go-to coach. Don't hesitate to ask for help. It takes courage and bravery and grit.