Chapter 20 - Noah at Two
Noah started speaking more.
At two, he called the staircase:
“up.”
No fear.
At least none we could reliably identify.
Children's memory does not behave like adult narrative.
He did not sit around consciously remembering Margaret's foot.
That did not mean the event left nothing behind.
It meant we avoided telling him what he felt.
He became cautious on stairs.
Reasonable.
We taught him.
One hand on rail.
Adult nearby.
Slow.
No carrying toys while climbing.
He hated the last rule.
At twenty-eight months, he attempted to carry six toy cars upstairs in both hands.
I intercepted.
He screamed.
Normal toddler protest.
I almost laughed from relief.
May you like
A child angry because Dad won't let him climb dangerously while carrying cars.
That was the kind of staircase conflict I wanted.
