Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

She cries a lot. It’s out of her reach and she really wants it.

It’s not that she’s lazy, but our 13-month old isn’t anywhere close to walking yet. She was premature, only 3 lbs at birth. Spent the first 8 months of her life in an orphanage. Pneumonia sapped her strength when we got her, quiet and unmoving.

Now she’s vocal, happy, and active, but behind just a tad developmentally.

So I entice her with favorite toys placed just beyond her reach. She’s delighted at first, thinking she can get them. Then wrinkles her face in protest, squawks a bit. Tries charming her way with that squishy smile. Squawks some more.

I walk away.

Seeing no other hope, she sloooowwwwly reeeaaaaaaaches. Misses.

Tries again. Strrrrrrrrrrrrrretch…

Gets the toy and coos with delight.

Cry all you want. Beg, plead, charm, squawk. Sometimes the only way to get to the next stage is to stretch for it. It ain’t fun. It hurts. But you’ll be glad you did once you learn to walk on your own.