First Steps...First Words

First Steps…First Words

 

An Exert from, “Full Circle Moon…a Daddy’s Little Book”

 

By John W, Vander Velden

 

 

I think it is important to remember that dealing with all the challenges of a child connects us to all the generations before.  We deal with different things -- have new tools to aid us -- yet there is this constant stuff that parents, all through history, must face.  So we remember and write little thing down -- important things, like first tooth, first steps, first real food, and first word.  All parents understand.  The whole process is a mix of worry and pride.  We watched each milestone wondering if Nick met standards considered normal -- if indeed normal truly exists. 

Nick began standing very early.  Figured he would be walking at eight months.  But he fell and didn’t try again for ages.  Trust me walking is great but it makes the kid faster and harder to contain.  The house had been kid proofed.  You know sharp edges eliminated and those plastic things stuffed into all the wall outlets – etc – etc -- etc.  I remember Nick crawling and examining the outlet cover.  The kid took everything apart his little fingers could grasp.  Does it surprise me he wants to be an engineer?  Naw.  So he didn’t really walk until he was fourteen month, but he took off with a vengeance. 

Those first steps, Nick firmly gripping my finger, surely this is one of the things a father remembers.  I feel sorry for any father, that for whatever reason, did not have that joy.  But of all the things I remember, that moment remains a treasure.   

When a child begins to talk -- it is clumsy at first.  New parents listen to each sound as if the child were about to say something very profound.  After months of garbled gibberish, misconnected syllables, a word comes out by accident it seems.  No one appear more surprised than the toddler whose lips formed their first coherent sound.  How fortunate the parent that hears that first word -- over and over and over again.  In this crazy busy world -- with work and all manner of responsibilities -- nothing quite stands up to the sound of the first word. 

That one word does not remain lonely for long.  A day came when Nick connected words in all sorts of babble.  How is it children learn to speak, intelligently?  I guess by hearing intelligent conversation.  I did not make a habit of returning babble for babble.  Nor did I speak to him as if he was a history professor, but rather as the small person he was.  And soon Nicholas spoke to me in a simple logical way.  Oh, there were many words and concepts he had to learn -- and correct pronunciations as well.  But that is part of the magic.  As he watched “Thomas the Tank Engine” on TV he called Harold a Hoc-a-Doctor.  For well over a year we smiled as “Hoc-a-Doctor” came from his lips while he pointed skyward anytime a helicopter flew past.  Of course we are thankful he no longer calls the aircraft by that name -- yet miss the wondrous sound of young lips attempting complex words.  Where has the time flown?  Nick no longer calls his shoes “woofs”.  But that word and so many others will always remain in my memory.  

I remember a time.  Nick must have been three or four.  I had brought him home and it was dark.  Before going in, we wandered the back yard.  The moon was particularly bright, near full.  I can still see him standing in the dark, awe upon his face as he pointed skyward.  “It’s a full circle moon.”  He said confidently.  Another time he pointed at the moon’s crescent, naming it as well -- “A Rocking Horse Moon”.  It was then I knew that I must write this story.  A story of Rocking Horse and Full Circle Moons…a daddy’s little book.  A book of all the feelings and remembrances.

 

(655 Words)