I’m hearing this a lot these days from my little girl.
“I can do it myself!”
It’s a wonderful thing…but it’s also a double-edged sword. I was glad for her to be able to play independently last fall. It was really nice for all of us that she was able to go out in the backyard and play alone or with the boys.
But now?
She’s discovered that she can open the gate that goes to the front yard. She thinks she’s big enough to cross the street alone.
It’s terrifying.
Last night, she went out the garage door and tried to cross the street alone. She’s never gotten the garage door open by herself before. She does not know how to look for cars or to wait until they’ve passed. My in-laws live across the street and she wanted to go visit. By herself. Scary, right?
I woke up this morning feeling like absolute shit. By the time the kids got home from school, I was just counting down the minutes until Matt got home so I could crash in my bed. So I was laying on the couch and Olivia was in her sandbox in the backyard. Or so I thought.
Matt came home and brought her in through the front door. Turns out she went through the gate and decided to play in the front. Luckily the boys were out there and Matt arrived just as she was getting to the front.
I guess my days of relaxing while she plays in the backyard are over, huh? I’m really glad for her increasing sense of independence…but it scared me!!! Looks like I’m back on patrol.
Elastamom's Excerpts 
HOLY MOLY!! Yeah that would get my adrenaline rushing too! That is awesome that O has been able to do so much on her own. That she has a desire and can accomplish that feeling! How fun that your in laws are across the street! I bet your kids love that! Olivia is a rockstar!!! Way to go O!!
Remember how you celebrated every mile stone when she was little. Look where it got you. A stubborn, independent child. Drat. Good luck.
That’s very scary! Gracie does the same thing, and we have to watch her every minute. Our backyard is fenced in but Caleb and the neighbor kids found an open space and guess who watched them and figured it out too!
Wow!! That’s scary…I love her independence though. Time to search for new locks that she cannot open.
It always seems to go this way, that everything in life is a trade-off. In motherhood this is certainly true. What you gain in one area, you lose in another. My friend calls this time in a child’s life when a parent has to be on guard for their safety “suicide watch”. And that’s exactly what it feels like. You rescue your kid out of a thousand different ways that they get themselves into that could kill them. Good luck!
First, I hope you’re feeling better.
Second, I SO get this. I love the independence too, but…the lack of danger awareness gives me heart palpitations.
I hope you can figure out a way to let O have her independence while you still have peace of mind that she’s safe. And when you do figure it out? Please share it with the rest of us? 🙂
Double-edged sword? You ain’t kiddin’!
Oh, how scary! And people don’t always stop at that stop sign by your house! Looks like you’ll have a busy summer. But, you’re right… It’s exciting too 🙂
That is terrifying. But you will find a way to let her strut her independence and keep her safe too.