It all begins today

Watching your child struggle for independence is a bittersweet ordeal. From the time they breathe their first breath, they want to be on their own. If I had a quarter for everytime my mop top tot screamed "MY DO IT!", I would be a millionaire by now. Well, "My do it" eventually turned into "I'll do it by myself, Mommy!" and slowly I have watched him demand to take over his own life. But it hasn't been too hard for me, because he has yet to successfully achieve something correctly on his own. His shoes are on the wrong feet. His pants are bunched up in the back. The potty isn't flushed. And that tickles me to death. Because that is proof that he still needs me. So I encourage and praise him for his achievements accomplished all by himself, no matter how far they are from perfection. Because the look on his face...the pride on his face...is so wonderful to see. And I normally skip off, relishing in the fact that no matter how much he wants to do it "All by myself", he can't and I win!

Until today....

I am in the shower. And every parent knows what showering with a loose 2 1/2 year old is like. Wash, rinse and repeat, my fanny! I am lucky to wash and rinse - there will be no repeating. So I am trying to set a new Olympic record for bathing and sweet Ben comes in and says, "Mommy! I need more orange juice." To which I reply, "Sure, Ben...I am almost done and I'll get it for you." and away he goes. Well, thinking he is in my room watching "Cars", I decide to do the unthinkable and shave my legs - daring, I know. Halfway thru the first calf I see Ben come around the corner wobbling. He stands in front of my shower door and says, "You don't have to do it, Mommy. I'll do it all by myself!" And takes the GALLON JUG OF ORANGE JUICE and THE CUP FROM THE NIGHTSTAND and pours himself a glass of orange juice. He did not spill one drop! Then he screwed the lid back on the jug and took it back to the kitchen. He came back to the bathroom and then sat in the floor and drank his orange juice.

I wish you all could have seen me - well, not literally as I am naked in the shower - but I just stood there. Water pouring over my face with my jaw gaping open, it hit me. It all begins today. Today is the day that he has achieved something completely on his own and successfully! From here on out it is just going to be one thing after the other, until 14 years from now he'll hop in a car and drive away from me. Oh dear God, what have I done? I have created a HUMAN BEING! He will think on his own, act on his own and one day...well, he just won't need me. Not the way I need him.

I think I'll call my mother and apologize now.
You should do the same!