Parenting sucess story

We have been taking Emma for walks around the block a few times a week with the weather being as nice has it has been. She loves looking at the changing leaves and always carries a stick or a leaf around with her. Her adventurous spirit seemed boundless until we came upon some seed pods. These are long, brownish-black things that fall from a few trees in our neighborhood and Emma was terrified of them. I mean stop dead in her tracks and not move a muscle terrified. We would have to pick her up and carry them over the dang things to keep going. We tried showing them to her, soothing her, distracting her, and finally kicked them off of the path, but she wouldn't go near them. For days, this went on. Each day we would try to help her get over her fear, holding them ourselves, crunching them under our feet, and laughing at their silly shape and sound.

After about a week of this, Emma and I were walking alone, and again she stopped short at the seed pods. I squatted down with her, and picked up one of the pods. We had been going to a music class and she loves the maracas, so I got a burst of inspiration. I said, "Look Emma, see how they make noise when you shake them?" She seemed interested and didn't shy away. Then I showed her how they fell from the tree above us and had seeds inside. I opened them up and handed her a seed to inspect (then took it out of her mouth!) and reminded her about how seeds make trees, just like in one of our books. Then, I showed her what a great sound it made when you throw it, and that did it! She picked up a pod and threw it on the ground. Her little face lit up as she listened to the rattle. Then she went around picking them up, throwing them, and applauding herself every time. It felt so great to help her through her fear. I don't want her to be a fearful child and this was the first time she has really shown any trepidation about anything. Now she walks past them without a second glance.