Miss Independence

Oh, my little independent 14-month-old girl.

As I've mentioned once or twice, I've always been proud of Miss Olive's determination, focus and enthusiasm for learning anything and everything. She's very loving and caring but also very independent.

And, the older she gets, the more she has decided to assert that independence.

The last couple weekends have been rough, with a hot-headed Ladybug wanting nothing other than to do things herself, her way.

This independence is both positive and negative. It's great in that she's all about feeding herself, listens closely to every word anyone says to try to communicate, and has little fear to try anything once. It's difficult mostly because some of the things she wants to try are things she shouldn't do - because they'll hurt her - or won't end well - because her was isn't necessarily the right way.

For example, she recently wanted to eat a banana peal. Please picture my child demanding nothing other than to eat the banana peal. When I calmly explained a few times that the inside for the banana was for eating and the outside peal was yucky, she quickly and fiercely took a piece of banana from her try and flung it at this lady. I was not so pleased. That was the end of the bananas for breakfast that day. (Don't worry, she had already eaten most of it and only had a few bites left when we left the table.)

After that, there was a 10 to 15 minute crying/sobbing episode during which she babbled on to me, seeming to declare her list of reasons why I should have just given her the peal and asking how I could be so cruel.

The next day, the Ladybug wanted to drink from the straw in her juice box while tipping the box upside down. Why? Because that's how she decided she wanted to drink it that day. Every other day, she drinks the right way. That day, not so much.

Then, there was the corn-on-the-cob incident. Miss Olive wanted to eat her corn by herself, like a big girl, like her nearly 3-year-old cousin.

We split the cob in half, and when she had mostly finished the first half, I offered to trade her for the second half. She wasn't having it. She opted for this ...

"Why are you taking MY picture?"

"I told you I could do it."

Honestly, the corn was so funny, I've cracked up a great many times the past couple days just thinking about it. She only let go of the ears of corn when she heard there was the prospect of coloring with crayons in her future.

I guess - even with the frustration it causes me from time to time - I'm definitely thankful for the assertiveness and dedication that my little one has. They are qualities of her personality that I hope she doesn't lose as she grows up. I hope they will help turn her into a leader, someone who isn't afraid to speak her mind, someone who isn't afraid to take a few risks here and there in an effort to achieve whatever she's put her mind to.