Things are really rolling now
By Staff
Leada Gore, Editor
I realize that for most people, rolling over is not a big deal. Most of us do it several times a night without even thinking. Unless you have some physical limitation that prevents you from moving freely, rolling over is almost an involuntary action.
It's just one of those things we do.
Unless, that is, you're 12-weeks old. If you're 12-weeks old, rolling over is a very big deal. Actually, if you're 12-weeks old, you probably don't care if you can roll over. If you're the mother of a 12-week old, however, rolling over is huge.
"Sutton is going to learn to roll over," I told Greg recently. "We want to stay ahead of the curve."
Greg just gave me a look.
So Sutton and I started practicing. I would hold something out of her reach and then lay her on her side, hoping she would roll at least halfway to get to the object. When that didn't work, I resorted to just rolling her over myself. She liked that, but it wasn't getting me, I mean her, any closer to the goal.
We kept working each night. She laughed and laughed but remained firmly on whatever side she was planted.
Sutton does have an excuse.
In the past, babies were put to sleep on their stomachs and learned to roll over much sooner.
Now, however, because of new evidence related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, babies are put to sleep on their backs. Since pretty much everything is right there in front of them now, they don't have as much reason to roll over.
"She will roll over when she's ready,"Greg said. "One day you will look and she will have just done it on her own."
I don't have that much patience.
"This is critical, Greg," I said. "If she gets behind here, then she won't walk or talk as quickly. Next thing you know she will struggle learning her ABC's and then it's all down hill. We're talking stressful high school days and attending a second-rate college and how is she supposed to be the first combo Miss America/U.S. President if she doesn't get in a top preschool?"
I stopped myself. I've been around lots of moms through the years who live through their children to the point of making everyone around them crazy. I've seen it plenty of times at the newspaper, where we wonder if the mom is the one playing football, cheering from the sidelines or wearing the homecoming crown.
I will not become one of those mothers. I want Sutton to be a well-adjusted, happy child.
However, if it just so happens she manages to win the 12-week old Olympics with the gold medal in rolling over, I don't want to stand in her way. All we need is just a little more practice…
