Hi @jerrybanfield, the part that got me was when u were explaining when you allowed your daughter to run farther off you, and your wife seems to disagree with you.
I may deviate a little bit from the topic, because while i was reading through, my mind took me back to when i read a book related to what i'm about to share now.
We should all learn from an eagle's parenting, when the eaglet is about to initiate its first flight.
The mother will soar with the baby high up in the air, and allow the baby when she reach the highest altitude, but will guide the baby all through, but when she noticed the baby is about to hit the ground, she will pick the baby up again and continue the process, until the baby loose the fear to fly.