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THE FRONT PORCH — Many of us have had moments when we're afraid if we let ourselves fall — literally or figuratively — we'll surely meet our demise.
For me, it was skiing as a teenager. I remember attracting a crowd of spectators as I took off my skis to walk down a small slope — after going down the bunny hill, mind you — as my cousins watched with embarrassment. Let's just say, I'm grateful we didn't have TikTok back then.
It turns out that a fear of falling can start very young, as one adorable video recently shared on YouTube demonstrates.
The video begins as a mom walks over to her 1-year-old, who is crying and saying, "Mommy," in an apparent plea for help while clinging for dear life to a pillar on the porch.
How he got there — just a few inches above the ground — is unclear, but it is clear he thinks he's very high up.
Despite the terror on his face, the mom doesn't rescue him, but, instead reassures him: "Bubby, you're really close to the ground."
That was all the toddler needed, and he lets his feet drop the 3-or-so inches to the ground. Turns out, he didn't need his mom's help to get out of the bind.
The smirk on his face once he realizes he's totally fine says it all.
