Mr. Independent
Little Man is solidly in his "threenager" phase. I had heard of this before and had even had others helpfully warn me that this was a more difficult age than two. I wasn't sure what to expect, but only a month in and it's already been a ride. My sweet, smart, caring guy is still all of that...until he absolutely isn't, which can happen at a moment's notice. Parenting a toddler is not for the faint of heart. A big part of it seems to stem from his strong push to be independent while being frustrated that just because he wants to be doesn't mean that he can. He would love to fully dress himself or take off for an adventure on his bike, but the realization that he needs help is devastating -- which then leads to a desperate plea rather than a simple ask. His angst sets off mine, and it can be really hard to practice the patience I'm trying to model for him. I'd love to give him all the independence he craves, but we don't always have an hou...