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November 2009 
Running with "eyes wide shut"
Posted on May 29th, 2007
by 
earthmama
earthmama
My 15 month old is a daredevil.
He delights in scrambling up chairs, stairs and other things and, 99% of the time, I am there to support him as he flings himself, wholeheartedly, off into space. Gulp! As much as he likes climbing, his favorite "extreme" activity is RUNNING WITH HIS EYES SHUT! Yes, he has been doing this for months and he absolutely loves it! He squeals with glee and laughs his infectious laugh as he ALMOST runs into the chair rail for the umpteenth time.... Wheww!
This is new to me. My other kids never did these kind of things and, me, well, I am not what you would call a "thrill seeker" (see my infp blog post for all the introverted details!!!). No, I'd say we were a family of introverts until our little extroverted ball of spirited energy came along. He keeps us focused, on our toes and laughing. This is good.
Pondering Noah's antics, has made me wish for some of his abandon. I wish I could take things a little less seriously and throw myself, laughing, into space once in awhile. I'd like to lift the weight of the world off my shoulders and run with my "eyes shut" trusting that things will work out in the end....
Just meditating on this makes me feel relaxed and happy.
And then, a light bulb moment..."this beautiful life doesn't have to be "either/or" !!! Fun and responsibility are not mutually exclusive. We can experience fun and joy while saving the world, can't we? We can dance and still have a revolution. We can close our eyes for a few minutes and maintain our awareness...
My little angel, running with his "eyes wide shut", is a blessed teacher. My heart is filled with gratitude! :)
Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Namaste.
Shannon :)
He delights in scrambling up chairs, stairs and other things and, 99% of the time, I am there to support him as he flings himself, wholeheartedly, off into space. Gulp! As much as he likes climbing, his favorite "extreme" activity is RUNNING WITH HIS EYES SHUT! Yes, he has been doing this for months and he absolutely loves it! He squeals with glee and laughs his infectious laugh as he ALMOST runs into the chair rail for the umpteenth time.... Wheww!
This is new to me. My other kids never did these kind of things and, me, well, I am not what you would call a "thrill seeker" (see my infp blog post for all the introverted details!!!). No, I'd say we were a family of introverts until our little extroverted ball of spirited energy came along. He keeps us focused, on our toes and laughing. This is good.
Pondering Noah's antics, has made me wish for some of his abandon. I wish I could take things a little less seriously and throw myself, laughing, into space once in awhile. I'd like to lift the weight of the world off my shoulders and run with my "eyes shut" trusting that things will work out in the end....
Just meditating on this makes me feel relaxed and happy.
And then, a light bulb moment..."this beautiful life doesn't have to be "either/or" !!! Fun and responsibility are not mutually exclusive. We can experience fun and joy while saving the world, can't we? We can dance and still have a revolution. We can close our eyes for a few minutes and maintain our awareness...
My little angel, running with his "eyes wide shut", is a blessed teacher. My heart is filled with gratitude! :)
Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Namaste.
Shannon :)
Access: Public
Shannon:
I love this picture…and I can feel the energy and the excitement!!!
:)
My third child (was) is like Noah. An extrovert among introverts. I once read in a book about sensitive children, the difference between introverts and extroverts was what they did to recharge. Introverts need time and space alone. Extroverts actually recharge around people.
You’re right, it doesn’t have to be an “either / or” proposition. We can embrace responsibility and risk-taking at the same time. Our challenge is to loosen up. My son and your son’s lesson this life-time is to find the joy in structure. They are society’s “movers and shakers” - literally. Running with his eyes closed is Noah’s way of trusting his intuition and delighting in it. Ah! To be so trusting again. Great post, Otter.
Oh my goodness he is SOOOO cute. It is so wonderful that you GET him.. that you let him be who he is. That is so huge at this age.
Kai, my youngest, runs into furniture and keeps going. My oldest, Jack, cries at the drop of a hat.. and a stubbed toe means tears for an hour.
blessings to your little one…
My Little Shmoo is also like this. My dad told me last week that he wishes he could sit down and have a serious conversation with her about the fact that humans cannot fly, and try to make her understand. I have no such wish – I'm glad she thinks it's possible!
Someone told me once that children tend to excel early EITHER verbally or physically. This has been true of my kids. Doodlebug talked in sentences by fifteen months, but could not climb up on our (not very high) couch until well over the age of two. Shmoo talks just about the average amount for her 22 months, but she can climb all the way to the top of the kitchen table, bend her knees and jump in the air, and climb a ladder (oy!). All kids even out eventually and make all their milestones – but usually some things come earlier than others.
And yes, Noah is absolutely ADORABLE!!!!
What a sweet picture. And I have one of each…Otter's description of their recharging techniques is right on target. Austin is the extrovert. He rarely plays all alone, and if he does, he is talking a mile a minute. Katy is the exact opposite, and always has been.
And the parents in our household are one of each…with the genders reversed. So it is an interesting mix we have.
CJ
Thank you all for the kind comments – they mean so much! :)
It is absolutely amazing how much I have learned about love, life and the universe by just “being a mom”. I have been challenged to grow and live my “best life” in ways I never imagined….
I feel remarkably grateful to have my precious little teachers in my life; and I feel blessed to have found other “conscious” moms who feel the same way!!
Namaste.
S:)
I ADORE this picture, and your entry…Ahhhhhh….look at that Trust in the World!!!
It's so beautiful!!! As is He (Lookit those dimples!)
HOW do they DO that?! My 3yr old runs full speed with her head down, looking at her feet, and stops short of running her head into the kitchen table…she has crashed into some walls, but laughs and goes right back running, Lol!
Sweet blog, really…Bless him and You!
My son used to put a bucket on his head and run around for hours without bumping into anythingwhen he was 1, 2, 3 years old. I was so amazed - and a little concerned, lol. As it turns out, he can see energy like I can see walls and doorways, which is why he never bumped into anything. Kids today - Go figure! :)