You were so cute for your birthday party. :) You tore into your cake, just ate and smeared it all over your face. I ended up tossing you in the tub before presents. You're almost walking. You just need a little bit more confidence, you've already learned the walking part, and a few times you've let go of the couch and stood. You're different from your brother, for now anyway, it seems like you don't have the same confidence he had at your age. I don't know why that is, I can only hope that you grow into it. Which brings me to lesson 11...
Self confidence is a hell of a thing. It's something that can't be given, but can be taken away. I was a horribly self conscious child. I was wary of everyone that spoke to me. Constantly looking for the hidden meanings in compliments, aware of people who were talking softly. It wasn't fun. I hope you don't have that experience. All I can tell you is this: When you get older, one day you'll wake up and realize you don't care what anyone but your friends and family think. Then, you'll realize that all that time you wasted being so concerned about others was a giant waste of time and energy. No one cares that in the 4th grade my foot fell asleep and I fell flat on my face when I stood up. No one cares about the time I went to work and wore 2 different shoes on accident. Those experiences aren't remembered by others, they're remembered by me. Those experiences made me who I am today and yours will form you into the adult you'll become. Hopefully, they'll make you more compassionate for others. More likely to help others. Less likely to laugh at others expense. It sucks that you can't just skip to the part where you're full of confidence, but embarrassing situations is how you learn what really matters. Hell, you may grow up to be one of the most confident people in the world, then this lesson will be worth moot.
