How can I stop being overprotective and let my only child grow?

[Anonymous]

He's nearly 14 months old and I admit to being overprotective. He's all my husband and I have; our only child. I gave birth for the first time at the late age of 18.

He already started walking (but is still improving with his balance and can tumble after several steps) and I hold him firmly after a while. Sometimes he screams. That's his way of saying "let me go, you're boring me". I know but I don't ever want him, my little boy getting hurt. Time flies fast and within 4-5 years later, he's going to start school and I'll have to let him go, wish him luck on his first day, hoping his classmates treat him kindly and he doesn't get hurt.

I even have gates installed so he can't access the kitchen and a metal gate on the kitchen window. I'll soon buy gates on all the other windows and anchor a furniture.

When he gets older, I'll eventually have to let him be independent. How can I stop being overprotective?

Updates

9 d

I've seen too many news of every possible scenarios of little kids going to the park and not returning, drowning incidents because the parents didn't bother teaching them how to swim, a babysitter or daycare workers causing injuries or killing then, getting hurt by a bully because the parents never got him/her into martial arts, etc.

Updates

9 d

Typo. I gave birth at 38 years old... not 18 lol

[HollyK21]

I think it’s important to ask yourself along the way: am I helping or hindering? I get it, that’s your baby, but he’s gonna get bigger and there’s literally nothing you can do about it. So in that case, what values are you teaching him when you keep him tucked under your wing? That there’s no world outside of you and your husband? That he should be fearful of interacting with other kids or panic at school because he’s away from you? These are not good life skills, and if you don’t allow him to spread his wings one day, he may never forgive you guys for robbing him of a fulfilling childhood. He’s still young so it’s not a big deal yet, but it’s going to gradually become of more importance to give him a sense of independence and to start integrating him into the world.

[EmmaMary]

So you gave birth at eighteen, you're now supposedly 36-45 years of age, so just how the hell is your child only fourteen months old?

[Asker]

Nope. I gave birth at 38 years old.

[Asker]

I just realized the typo right now.

[EmmaMary]

Thank you so much for clarifying this now very obvious typo. x

[EmmaMary]

Thank you so much for the MHO.

[Iron_Man]

Just let the kid be himself but keep an eye on him. Don’t be too overprotective. You’re gonna spoil him and turn him into a baby as an adult, put him in sports toughen him up

[Bklynbadboy12]

You dont have to do anything he's still a baby but the time you have your second child trust me you won't be like this

[Bklynbadboy12]

Thats for the MHO