Miss Independent

[justanotherjen]

Kind of an update on my other post about independent kids.

This is what Nora does for herself now:

• Uses the potty all by herself.
• Dresses herself completely.  In the morning she gets up, strips off her PJs, takes off her pull-up and puts on her undies.  Then she picks out her clothes and puts them on.  If she later realizes they are on backwards (as the often are) she fixes them.
• She puts on her own socks...almost always the right way.
• She can put on her own shoes and boots.
• She hangs her coat on the back of the chair (which is a stretch for her...they are way taller then she is) like the other kids.
• She can fill her own cup from the water dispenser in the fridge.
• She can turn the light on in her room by standing on a small box.  She keeps it under the light so she can always reach it.
• She gets herself ready for bed at night...puts her pull-up and PJs on, then shuts off her light, closes her door and gets in bed.
• She cleans her own room and picks up her toys from the other room.
• She helps put the dishes away (anything non-breakable).
• She gets her own snacks out of the fridge (namely gogurts) and brings them to me to open.

And my story last time about the peanut butter sandwich...she finally did it.

The other day she wanted a sandwich and her sister wouldn't make it for her.  I told her she would have to wait a minute, then because I was right in the middle of doing something.  She went into the kitchen, I assumed, to get the stuff ready like she likes to do.

But before I was done with whatever I was doing (I seriously don't remember what it was now...I think I was cleaning something) she comes walking back in and plops down on the floor with a plate full of food.

She looks up at me and says, "look, Mommy, I made mine own sandwich."  Sure enough she had.  Seems Meagan didn't put the peanut butter away after making her own sandwich and actually left it open.

Nora went in the kitchen got a plate, 2 pieces of bread and spread peanute butter on them then folded each in half for sandwiches.  She was so proud of herself.  And I don't doubt that if there had been jelly left open on the table that both sandwiches would have had jelly on them, too.

For those keeping count...she won't be 3 until April.

I suppose this is bragging but I'm just amazed at all she does at 2 1/2.  I don't remember any of my other kids being this independent or motivated to do for themselves at this age.

Meagan was the most mature/independent at 2.  But she couldn't use the potty, get her own drinks, put on her shoes.  Heck, she couldn't even open the dang fridge because the doors were too heavy.  She couldn't walk up and down stairs without help (Nora has been doing that since she was like 18 months).  She would take more then one or two bites using a spoon without giving up and eating with her hands (Nora has been using a spoon/fork exclusively since she was 16 months old).

I forget that she is only 2.  She just amazes me every day.

[amysmomma505]

Dec. 24, 2008 at 12:26 AM

amy's beginning to get really independent too,..shes 19 months.