“No, me try.” These words make me cringe. Lately, it’s my daughter’s favorite phrase and the source of my anxiety. I try to be supportive. I try to congratulate her when she completes even the smallest of tasks. I try to remind myself she is learning and growing and this is a good thing. I try to let her try because I know the positives of raising an independent child.
But good Lord, the messes. The tears. The fact that it takes forever to do anything. This phase is slowly chipping away at my sanity.
Like many toddlers, she wants to try everything. Everything. From putting on her own clothes and shoes to opening the car door, pouring her own juice, and even changing her own diaper. She wants to do it all, or at least have a try. I usually let her try {I draw the line at the diaper} or at least talk her into helping me because it’s a “grown up” job.
The funny part of it all is that it is my fault. I taught her to try. I taught her to want to try. I taught her she should feel proud of herself when she does try and succeeds. Now, all of these skills are coming out in one big annoying phase and I couldn’t be more proud and more annoyed all at the same time. I have made it a point to raise an independent child and this is what I get.
Raising an independent child is something I strive for. I let my daughter fall down, within reason of course, it’s how she learns. I don’t direct her every move and I let her be. I let her struggle and try to figure it out on her own. I stay close by because I know she is a risk taker. She’s adventurous, fearless, fiercely independent and I’d never want to change that. She always knows I am there to help, but she would just rather figure it out herself.
It is incredibly hard on my sanity, but I love that about her. Although, not so much when scaling the dining room table to climb up on the counter to get herself a drink sounds like a good idea.
