I guess it is time for the serious parenting to begin.

Lately, my son has been learning all the things 15-month-olds learn to do.

He is beginning to say a few words — nothing like momma or dad. No, Gibson mouths more important words like “cat” and “that” — accompanied with an outstretched arm and finger pointing like a hunting dog.

He is learning how to lift lids, open boxes and punch buttons. Too soon, I am afraid, he will be able to call out for pizza when he doesn’t feel like eating what mom and dad are cooking.

According to our pediatrician, all of these things are to be expected at his age. He is growing. His world keeps expanding at an exponential rate.

Even though I expend much effort and attention to make sure Gibson is not flushing important items down the toilet or calling 911 on the portable phone, I am constantly amazed at how curious he is and how fast he takes it all in.

When the doctor suggested the other day that we might consider introducing potty training to our son, I thought to myself, “Wait. He is just 15 months old. He is just a baby.”

I guess we are entering a new phase — in childhood and parenting.

Now this parenting thing gets really complicated.

I realized this the other evening when I watched Gibson run around the yard beside our house. As I watched him bounce from playing with the potted plants to climbing the back steps, I noticed two people walking down the street.

In a split second, Gibson spied the two strangers, turned around, smiled and waved both arms wildly.

On the outside, I also smiled as they remarked about how adorable my child was. On the inside, my heart sank.

In recent weeks, my wife and I have encouraged our son to wave hello and goodbye to friends and family. I am delighted each evening when I walk in the front door to that big smile and two-handed wave.

But when he suddenly and instinctively waved at the couple on the street, my mind quickly flashed back to all of the ABC After School Specials that preached the importance of not talking to strangers.

At 15-months, Gibson waving wildly at everybody he meets is not a problem. But the incident reminded me that important parenting lessons loom ahead.

Right now, I enjoy the moments when Gibson brightens people’s days with his smile and waves. As he is accompanied by a parent or guardian, I am not too concerned with his indiscriminate greetings right now.

But soon, the issue will have to be addressed. These days, Gibson barrels through life with absolutely no fear. I don’t want to suddenly squash that spirit of curiosity. I don’t want to teach him that everything is to be feared.

Instead I want to teach him some discretion.

I guess that’s the tricky part of parenting — finding that balance between giving children the space to be independent and curious, while teaching them to be aware of what dangers may lie ahead.

Whatever happened to the days when all I had to worry about was changing dirty diapers and feeding his empty stomach?

Those days seem so simple now.

Ben Hillyer is the Web editor for The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-455-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.