Self-sufficiency
Little day-to-day accomplishments get lost in the shuffle when you’re parenting three young kids. Recently, I realized that Jack ties his own shoes. I mean I worked with him on learning to tie last year. He tried and tried and finally got it and we were so proud. And now he has three different pairs of tie shoes that he hasn’t asked for help with in months. How did that happen?
I also realized Emmie can button, zip and snap her own clothing. This is revolutionary! One day she was whining and crying that I needed to zip her coat and suddenly a few months later, she’s self-sufficient. And god help the person who tries to assist her with these tasks to make things go a little faster in the morning. And let me tell you, little Miss Fashionista can even tie her own scarf in the latest style.
And Maeve? Maeve picks out her own clothes, gets herself completely dressed (underwear, jeans, socks, shirts and she can even do her own tights if she’s wearing a dress), brushes her own teeth, puts on her own coat and shoes and throws the biggest fit of all time if you even think about trying to help her get her fingers in her “glubs” (gloves). Last year at this time I was putting onesies over her pants when she went to bed so she wouldn’t strip naked and freeze to death. My, how far we’ve come.
When they were newborn, 2 and 4 years old, I couldn’t even fathom this day would ever come. The drudgery of boots and coats and snowpants and mittens and hats was just too much to bear. Screw it, it’s easier to stay inside all winter. But now? Everybody puts on his or her own gear and away we go. I mean, DUH, this still doesn’t happen in a timely or orderly fashion. Today Maeve screamed hysterically that “It isn’t working!” and threw herself on the ground when she tried to put her snowpants on over her boots. I gently tried to suggest maybe taking the boots off and putting the pants on first, but she screamed, “NO! I DO IT THIS WAY!” All right, crazy, go for it. You’ll still be there in April when all the snow has melted.
26/02/2013 at 10:01 pm Permalink
I love it, so funny! And so true!
26/02/2013 at 10:29 pm Permalink
I have been ever so grateful for these accomplishments when I have had all three by myself. Getting them into the car and buckled up was monumental! Now, I have more trouble locking all the doors as we leave the house than I do getting those three munchkins dressed in their winter gear and buckled into their seats! But it also makes me sad to think of them growing up so fast. I miss those middle of the night quiet times with each of them as babies. Holding and rocking and singing and talking…alone together in the dark.
26/02/2013 at 11:30 pm Permalink
Gramma Martsi, I am with you!
Where did all the babies go?
I remember Jack crying to me about the fact that they did not tell him they were leaving. Now they wave as the parents leave. Oh, hey, see ya Mom and/or Dad. Have fun. Don’t hurry home. So sad.
Hate that they are growing up waaay too fast. Slow down Jack, Emmie, and Maeve, and at least let the “oldsters” catch up! Too cute! I am missing those little babies!
02/03/2013 at 2:08 pm Permalink
I don’t suppose Emmy would be willing to have her own Fashionista blog. I could use some help with learning how to tie scarves in the latest style myself. Then again, I could just wait for my one year old to get there – I’m sure it will happen soon enough and she’ll roll her eyes over what mom is wearing.
05/03/2013 at 1:51 pm Permalink
I love it. I recently realized that it has been YEARS since I had any idea when Isabelle has pooped. she may not have gone in all that time, she may go six times a day. I don’t know, and I will probably never have any idea again for the rest of my life. True independence. Jack dresses and zips everything and gets ready super fast, although we haven’t tackled tying shoes because he hasn’t had a pair of shoes that aren’t velcro ever. So that will come next year, or never if because I always think the velcro sneakers are cuter when I’m buying him shoes. Sophie can dress herself, and put on her shoes by herself (on the wrong feet almost 100% of the time because she “likes it better’), but she won’t so I usually have to help her. Or I have to help her because otherwise it takes roughly a millennium to get out the door. She can’t zip her coat yet, but she can buckle her own seatbelt so i don’t have to crawl into the very back of my van anymore.
Beatrice does absolutely NOTHING for herself. Lazy baby