My son loves to race. His favorite thing to do when we come back from a walk in the woods is to race me down our driveway. This never gets old and he always looks so gleeful. Despite that joy, I can't help but tell him not to run too fast. I want to save him the trauma of falling, but I also feel guilty for being a killjoy.

There seems to be a fine line between letting a child get in harm's way and letting him learn through experience. I'm still not sure where the boundary lies. Sometimes it feels like I am constantly warning Kellan about some calamity, whether it's burning his mouth on hot foods to tripping because of an untied shoelace.

My husband, on the other hand, does not feel the need to overprotect. He gives Kellan plenty of space. When they go on hikes, he lets Kellan pick up strange objects, get close to the water's edge, and run with a stick in his hand (that last one really makes me nervous). They have fun! Maybe I need to worry less and have more fun. There are definitely instances where safety should not be compromised, but that leaves plenty of scenarios where there's room for less intervention. Maybe I need an intervention? Any tips from more relaxed parents out there?