Metres and meters up in the rainbow-coloured Liquid Amber by the chicken pen ... much higher than my head ... shouting "I can see everything from here!". I can't wipe the fear from my mind that he'll fall ... from that height it could be deadly ... but I keep my eyes down and concentrate on feeding the chickens, and sweeping up the fallen leaves into a tall pile to put into the compost bin. Because I still remember how it feels to be up a tree so high that you can see the edges of the world ... climbing to the very top on a windy day and holding on as the trunk whips you backwards and forwards.
And when I hear a little voice saying "I'm too scared to get down!", I steel myself and answer in a no-nonsense tone to simply take it slowly. Because I also remember the paralyzing fear when you look down and the ground seems as far away as the horizon, and it seems impossible to move at all.
And then, when he is on the ground finally, and has conquered the climb and the fear all by himself, there's the skipping excitement and pride that comes with mastering both body and mind.
Children simply have to climb trees ... even if they terrify their mothers more than they do themselves!
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