To have a baby that is dependent on you for everything is something you have to get used to as a new mom. You eventually settle in to your new routine after months and months of them crying and you come to relieve them of distress. So now a mom begins to hold on to the notion that, "My baby needs me". Because let's face it, it's true.
But what happens when they are around let's say 1 year 9 months 2 weeks and 6 days and they start acting a little funny? Funny, like "I DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE"! Say what? Excuse me? I'm not understanding this.
My daughter has seemed to now develop her own mind at such a young age. She actually has her own preferences, her likes and dislikes. She now wants to feed herself. She's not nasty about it. She just looks up at me with a blank stare after I put on her bid and takes her spoon and begins eating. I interpret her glares to ask the question, "What do you think you are doing mommy? I can take it from here. I can feed myself." I mean this toddler independence thing is really getting out of hand. I have discovered her opening the refrigerator by herself and actually choosing what she wants and taking it out of the fridge. WHAT THE ...??? One day when we were out and I was busy doing some paper work. She wanted a tangerine and asked for it, "Mom, Orange!"(She calls tangerines oranges). I told her to hold on, give me one second. I looked down at her and she took the tangerine from out of my bag. But, that's not all. She pushed her little thumb through the skin and began peeling her own tangerine. I can't take it. What am I here for? She occasionally calls me "mommy" and sometimes she calls me "mom"... MOM? Teenagers and adults call their mothers mom. When we are at a family or friends home or other places where she is familiar with she walks around like she owns the place. She goes off and explores like she's Dora, leaving me behind. So I follow her to where ever her inquisitive mind tells her to go.
Is it her? She's changing so fast. Is it me? Am I feeling the baby blues? I guess this is just the cycle of life.
Each month, my hubby watches our daughter for the weekend so I can get a break and do some of the things I want to do. And when I came home last night from hanging out with my home girls, my daughter ran down the hallway and jumped into my arms and said "MOMMYYYyyy!!!". And although it was way pass her bedtime (She woke up because she heard the unlocking of the door) it was just great to have that feeling and that moment with her. She just wanted to be wrapped in my arms.
I embrace the fact that she is growing and learning different things. I am so proud of her. And I know she will always need me because I am her mom. She will just need me in different ways. I guess I just have to get used to these new changes.
Have you ever been shocked by your tot's independence?
