It’s been a while, and so much has happened… Iz is now almost 15 months old 😱. In the last couple of weeks, she’s taken her first wobbly little steps and has added a fair few new words to her repertoire.

Which brings me to today’s topic: “Is she walking yet?”

You know that question. The one that makes you want to smile politely on the outside but silently scream on the inside. For months, every time someone asked me, I had this overwhelming urge to say: “Can we not?”

Why are we all so obsessed with milestones? Why did I become obsessed with milestones? And why did I, before Iz, probably ask other parents the same thing? (“Are they walking yet? Talking yet? Counting to 100 in Mandarin yet?” 🙃) To anyone I’ve ever asked that question to: I’m sorry!

Here’s the thing: we never know what’s going on in the background. For some families, those questions can sting. Maybe walking or talking is delayed, maybe there are medical challenges, maybe parents are just exhausted from the constant comparison. Even when well-meaning, those questions can sometimes pile on pressure we don’t need.

I realised I had tied these milestones to how “good” of a mum I felt — as if her walking or talking sooner would be some kind of proof. That’s nonsense, of course. Iz is amazing, has done everything in her own time, in her own way. And I couldn’t be prouder. I also didn’t pressure her, I kept those worries firmly locked away knowing it was my nonsense and here we are… a little toddler!

So here’s to celebrating our little ones for who they are, not for how quickly they tick off a checklist. And here’s to being a little gentler with ourselves (and each other) along the way.