Mr. Independent

Not really. My first born is actually almost anything but independent. He has rarely used the words, "I can do it myself", and learned to say "help, please" at an early age. He has been potty trained since February, and he still whines at least once a day when I refuse to pull down his pants. For the most part, I do not try to force any independence on him for two reasons. One, he has had to grow up alot faster than most three year olds since he has already become a big brother twice over. And two, it is often just easier and faster for me to do it myself than it is to take the time to show him how, or push through the whining that often comes with teaching independence. I know, I know...give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime, blah, blah, blah. I am not sure I even know how to teach him to put his shirt on.

Nonetheless, today, he surprised me. I threw down his clothes, and asked if he could put them on while I got Silas dressed. No whining, no hesitation, he immediately got to the task at hand. And, of course, starts supplying me with a play-by-play of the action just to make sure I am still paying at least some attention to him. Pajama pants off, pajama top off, nighttime pull-up off, underwear on, shorts on, and then a major road block with the shirt starts the whining. I, however, am so impressed with the progress he has made to this point. I quickly finish up with Silas and rush down to give lots of praise for all his hard work. And then I run into my own road block. He is a very sensitive child, and getting him to do this much by himself has been a big accomplishment, so how do I tell him that he did something majorly wrong with his shorts?

How in the world did he get them on that way? Am I really going to take him to the grocery store like this? Oh yes, I am. I asked gently one time if he wanted me to fix his shorts, he quickly informed me there was nothing wrong with them. Ok then, shirt on, snap a few pictures for the blog, and away we go.

Later I discovered that his underwear were also on backwards. Maybe I have been giving this little man a fish for way too long.