Ricky, my grandson has started walking. It was a beautiful milestone. My daughter, Julie, had warned me: “Mum, the day Ricky will walk; I will burst into tears.” I understood thinking I might do the same.

Julie never quite managed to master walking without the aid of her sticks. That elusive balance failed to materialise due to her physical disability. She started out on a little red rollator with splints on her legs. She oozed confidence minding and managing her little brothers. Now, with her baby son about to take off, I wasn’t sure what I’d feel.

A bit of me was reliving the time I learned my daughter would never walk unaided. My heart bled for her. Every day I’m proud of how she copes and lives her life.

Each day his courage grew and with it our admiration for his development

Ricky is testament to Julie and her husband, David’s, determination to succeed. Over the last few weeks we’ve watched Ricky get ready for toddling. He’d let go for an instant while leaning against one of us or at the coffee table in the living room. Gradually each muscle in his body got stronger and one day he just threw caution to the wind and took off.

I was fearful that Ricky might take his first steps when Julie and David were working and that they’d miss the moment.

Instead, we all seemed to be there and there were no tears from us ladies, only wonderment and joy as the process unfolded. At first he was careful, only taking the steps when he was close to support. Each day his courage grew and with it our admiration for his development.

Ricky explores

Ricky is working hard to perfect his skills. The first few days he travelled in straight lines; now he’s building in twists and full turns. He has become quite the ballet dancer! He’s practicing carrying things. He is gaining confidence daily. He can stand on his tippy toes for ages. He stretches his arms up to see what he might find.

Before he had to crawl to access the presses in the kitchen. Watching his development all along; I knew this day of toddler exploration was coming so I invested in strong magnets for my presses.

I purposely left the press with the pots and pans for his perusal. A set of four drawers was also allowed to remain magnet free. The top drawer houses the cutlery. The second one is home to baking equipment and the third has the harmless soft tea towels. The bottom drawer has a bit of everything and none of it is used very much!

All eyes were immediately on me

The other day I was passing through the kitchen to the utility room. My husband, Tim said: “Ricky’s in your bottom drawer!” Looking around I saw that he was busy rooting and removing “stuff” – a palette knife, a plastic icing ruler. I gave my blessing, saying that there was nothing dangerous in the drawer. Ricky could continue his business. Having completed a few jobs; I returned to the kitchen. All eyes were immediately on me. Tim said: “Take a look at the ‘nothing dangerous’ things that Ricky found in the drawer.”

First up was a jagged-edged freezer knife that dated back to my college days in the Munster Institute. Why it was necessary to have a knife to cut frozen food; I’ll never know. This was followed by a vicious-looking butcher’s cleaver that I‘d forgotten I owned along with several skewers and sharp objects.

So many times over the years I wondered how I always managed to lose them

It prompted a full overhaul of the bottom drawer’s contents. I pulled it out completely and as I did good-quality icing bags began to unfold from behind. It was something like an airbag after a crash. Five in total – as well as the newest piping bag that I’d purchased recently online. So many times over the years I wondered how I always managed to lose them. I’d presume they were in my school kitchen. I wouldn’t find it there so I’d end up buying another one. Or vice versa. They lived at the back of the tea towels and got pushed over the edge to the space behind the bottom drawer. I was delighted with my find. Meringues and eclairs can be reborn! My house is getting reorganised piece by piece to accommodate a travelling curious toddler. Every step is magic and then Ricky climbs into Mam’s arms. He doesn’t see Julie’s wheelchair only his safe place.