Today, Parent Bloggers Network is asking “How far would you go for your kids?” for their promotion of the new book Dangerous Admissions, by Jane O’Connor that addresses the issue of what parents would be willing to do to get what they want for their kids.

Every parent recognizes the change that comes over them when their kids are born. Suddenly there is a fierce love and protection that I’m sure makes parents willing to do many things to help their kids. I’m not going to take that angle, though. For me I see a different challenge. I have been amazed at just how much of a child’s personality is just there right from birth and I see a lot of myself and Heather in our kids. I was extremely shy as a kid and still am a real wallflower and I am seeing so many of those traits in Ethan. He is very outgoing with his friends, but with strangers he is extremely shy. The first day of soccer practice is often spent sitting next to us until he warms up to his coach.

Watching this behavior has made me remember a lot of my own experiences as a child. When company came over I would frequently hide. I would be very outspoken among my friends, but around other people I would sit off to the side. Even when I got older I would be so nervous I couldn’t bring myself to say “hello” when I passed a classmate on campus. I eventually reached a point where I got fed up with myself and made a conscience effort to combat my own personality. I volunteered for public speaking projects in school and made an effort to be more sociable and to a large extent it paid off. The worst of my shyness was conquered, but to this day I still fall back into wallflower mode unless I give myself an internal nudge.

Watching Ethan’s shyness has made me realize that it is time for another evaluation of myself. I don’t want him to waste years being shy like I did. In order to help him I need to get out of my comfort zone and be more outgoing. I think he’ll follow my lead and in the end we’ll help each other.

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