THE crawl guy

the crawl guy

June 17, 2025

He can crawl faster than me.  
I’m back on two feet to keep up.  
Sometimes I slide on my butt.  

He used to cry when we put him down.  
Now he cries when we pick him up.  

From craving comfort  
to seeking comfort on his own.  
His grin is wide as the sea  
when you first put him down.  

He’s been waiting for these moments  
before he even knew it.  
I’ve been waiting for them too.  
He’s gaining independence.  

And I’m learning how to let go,  
one hallway at a time.  

He stops to turn back,  
checks to see if I’m still there.  
I am.  

Every crawl, every pause,  
every wobble toward a corner  
he hasn’t explored yet  
feels like a rehearsal  
for all the ways  
he will eventually leave the room.  

But for now,  
he still circles back.  
Still climbs over my lap.  
Looks back when I say his name.  

So I say it often,  
until he knows:  
freedom doesn’t mean alone.