This is childhood. Childhood is exploring, examining, learning and a lot of times getting hurt in the process. Lucy has worn her bumps and bruises like a champ and they are a badge of honor. She is enjoying her childhood and if she wasn’t her knees wouldn’t be looking like that. Too many times as parents we are so worried about helmets, and safety, and being cautious that we suck the fun right out of everything. Are we protecting or sheltering? Are we allowing our kids to enjoy their life or preventing them from having one? Are we allowing them to explore and experience or are we making them scared of taking risks? Lucy earned each of those bruises honestly by running too fast, going too high and pushing her limits. I couldn’t be more proud.