What would happen, they conjectured, if they simply went on assuming their children would do Perhaps not quickly. Perhaps not by the book. But what if they simply erased those growth and development charts, with their precise, constricting points and curves? What if they kept their expectations but erased the time line? What harm could it do? Why not try?
The characters are contemplating the possibility of letting go of rigid developmental expectations for their children. They wonder what would happen if they abandoned the strict guidelines of growth charts that often create pressure and anxiety, allowing themselves to embrace a more fluid understanding of their children's progress.
This idea raises questions about the impact of conventional milestones on parenting. By removing the constraints of a timeline while maintaining their hopes for their children, they consider a new approach to growth that could foster positivity and reduce stress, encouraging a more natural development process free from judgment.