{Issue 7} Denial is a Dirty Mistress
I bought a “Montessori” infant-walker on Amazon. Painted in primary colors, made of wood instead of plastic, and no obnoxious sounds.
This was the walker to buy, I thought, as I cast a disgusted glance at the plastic one I had borrowed from a friend. It had all the worst features: molded lines from cheap plastic materials, a palette of clashing colors, and, worst of all, a song that blared every time my son touched a button:
WELCOME TO OUR LEARNING FARM…WE HAVE MUCH TO SHOW YOU!”
Once my new walker arrived, I put the plastic monstrosity where it belonged—in the back of my storage closet, door firmly shut.
My son, none the wiser, took his new “Montessori” walker for a spin. He stood, excited to take those first steps, and immediately fell backward. This new hand-carved walker slid from under him and flipped over. He cried, I comforted him, and we tried again. And again. And again. For months. Denial is a dirty mistress.
One day, it happened. The walker overturned so hard, it landed right on his face. Blood everywhere. At 11 months old, he decided: no more walking. It took my son a whole four months before he would even try again. In mom-time that is an eternity.
Needless to say, I hated this thing. In a fit of rage, I wrote an Amazon review. “Sure, it looks great, but the acute angle and heavy wood makes it useless, prone to tipping. Structurally flawed. Recall “Montessori” walkers!!” I took the plastic one out of hiding. I asked for forgiveness.
Lesson? Don’t get duped by aesthetics. Bad design can very well be lurking behind that pretty Pinterest image you covet. My advice? Hire an architect who understands both beauty and physics. We’ll ensure your building (unlike that walker) won’t make anyone afraid to move forward.
Book a consultation to learn more.
