My kids are entirely normal little people that spend much of their time doing things I ask them not to do.

At the moment, that specifically relates to the 3-year-old who, for some reason, can only comprehend the ability to run everywhere. I consistently say ‘slow down, just walk’, and then off she goes at full pace stomping along as I watch anxiously from behind ready to pick up the pieces.

Fortunately, we haven’t had any significant injuries and I suspect that has little to do with my words, and more to do with luck. I do often hear myself berating the children, telling them to ‘stop playing swords on the top of the stairs’, to ‘hold on to railing pleeeassssee’ and ‘no jumping off the wall’. As I hear my own voice resonating on (generally) deaf ears, I do wonder why I don’t let them run free.

Until next week … Gen

My parents let me run and yes, there were accidents but we all survived. We did things we weren’t supposed to do, we walked home the way that Mum said not to, and we rode our bikes hands free down the hill without a helmet. But we loved it and as we grew, we made our own mistakes, fell off the bike and perhaps learnt our own way. If I get sick of hearing my own voice telling my children to be careful, then I’m sure they do too. And as I watch my 3 year old attempting to run down the ramp at the shops I should really try and focus on the look of pure pleasure on her face as she lets loose.

I’m certainly not a bad mother if she falls over because that will always happen regardless of what we do. I do however think I’m a better mother for giving her the freedom to run and spread her wings.

Do you let your children run free and learn their own lessons? Share with us below!

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