One morning about two months ago, I realized that Sam was perfectly capable of getting dressed by herself, but that I was still helping her. That morning was rough, and not just for Sam.
It started in the bathroom: I wouldn’t put the toothpaste on the brush for her. Tears. I wouldn’t help her off the stepstool. More tears. I wouldn’t wash her face or wet her hair. More tears.
Then in the bedroom, she had to get out her own clothes and put them on by herself. Yes, she cried — and even stomped her feet — over that, too.
But that night, when we were all together, I sung her praises to Greg. “Did you know that this morning, Samantha got ready all by herself? She brushed her teeth, got dressed and even brushed her hair! All by herself!”
She was beaming.
The next morning, you can probably guess what happened. “Mommy! I don’t need your help! I can do it myself!”
And even since then, she has been doing it herself. A game-changer.
