Nothing To Fear... But Fear Itself

Almost invariably, if I tell a parent that my son has been in underpants since he turned one, they look horrified and ask: "But... What if he has an ACCIDENT???"

Uh, I change him and wipe the floor?

I get the same horrified look when I say that he's been drinking from a real glass and using porcelain plates and glass bowls since he was six months old: "But... What if he BREAKS ONE???"

Uh, I sweep up the pieces and throw them away?

And don't even get me started on using forks with sharp tines or potato peelers without "safety guards"...

We all want our children to grow up to be responsible, self-aware, and self-disciplined.  Yet, for fear of a little puddle, a tiny nick on the finger, or a couple of smashed $3 plates, we are denying them the very experiences that will help them get there.

What are we afraid of?  A Biblical flood of urine overtaking our homes?  The destruction of our heirloom Limoges glassware and porcelain china?  A severed artery or amputated limb?

Or are we just afraid of the inconvenience of wet underwear, broken plates, and finger scrapes?

In my view, you can either deal with the hassles of letting your child experience real consequences now... Or later.   If you avoid the messes now, they'll just get bigger and harder to clean up the older your child gets.  And guess who'll still be doing the clean-up?