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Cakewalk
A Father Reflects on His Son's First Steps
By John McCormick
It was a beautiful April day in Napa, Calif., when my son celebrated his first birthday. The photograph of this momentous occasion has become one of my most prized possessions, holding a place of honor atop my computer.
My son, Lorcan, graduated from his walker to a sort of death-defying, furniture-to-furniture tightrope walk, which meant our days of merely 
tracking down a crawling baby were over. My days consisted of either walking behind him, as he attempted to extend his personal record of 3 feet without a fall while crossing the living room floor or regretting not following behind him as he fell flat on his face.
My mother told me countless times in telephone conversations that you had to let your child learn by falling, that it was the only way they would properly learn – but he was my child. I hated to see him cry, as the red of his face turned to match the red of his hair. I also hated hearing him cry, since he had a full body wail that emanated out of his mouth with such force that I feared the neighbors in our quiet community would call the police.
It was on his first birthday that he succeeded in crossing the living room for the first time without any help. My wife and I applauded, and Lorcan smiled and giggled, proceeding to set greater and greater personal records that day, walking from room to room with only minor stumbles and a protective parent following behind.
All this ambulatory activity culminated in that prized photo. It is Lorcan, sitting in his highchair with chocolate cake smeared all over his face and hands. He has a proud smile on his lips, sound asleep while eating his first birthday cake.
This is the sort of photograph a father loves to pull to show a son how far he has come.
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