Baby steps

I see my kid learning 

a new skill

a new language 

And enjoying while doing so 

She expresses it confidently

Without any attempt at perfection

There is no worry,

no self doubt 

no concern.

Just expressing

what she learned

No comparison 

No reference

Just someone finding her feet. 

You grow up.

You compete.

The joy of learning

possibly

becomes a distant second.

Growing up has a way of doing that.

Then comes the fear. 

And self-doubt.

Fear of failure more than anything.

Even when the child within you

tells you

it is okay to fail, 

somehow you don't find it in yourself

to take baby steps again.

I hope she never forgets
the joy of learning,
to be a child,
to take baby steps
whenever life calls for it,
simply
for the joy of it.