My daughter has reached that fun, and sometimes tricky, age where she wants to do everything herself but is not always capable of doing the task she wants the independence to do. At two and a half she has strong opinions about just about everything from clothing to hair to meal choices and everything in between. She is the epitome of strong and independent. ...until she is not.
She is recognizing the age conundrum of wanting to be older while still needing to know she is our baby. The last couple days she has been requesting to be rocked in the nursery a lot. She started asking for a binky again, but we don't have one. And she has dug the sippy cups back out of the cabinet.
The same child that said, "I'm almost a teenager and then I can do that" is the same one saying "Can you just rock me with my blankie?" It is the age conundrum that continues through the teen years with "I can't wait to grow up and make my own rules...but can I have some money to go to a movie with my friends?" It continues in adulthood with the lure of retirement but still wanting the benefits of a steady paycheck and youth.
I will admit I do my best giving her space to exercise her independence and strong opinions. There are times it drives me crazy because I just want to get something done or move us along but I try to be patient. I love her strong spirit. I hope she keeps it because it will serve her well as an adult. But I am LOVING these extra snuggles lately. I'm loving rocking my sweet child again and reassuring her she will always have my heart.
I'm grateful to recognize the how big a change she is going through both with growing and with a sister on the way. I'm grateful for her strength and spunk. I'm grateful for all the laughs she gives me. I'm grateful to do my best nurturing her strong spirit while setting boundaries. I'm grateful to just hold her and rock back and forth. I'm grateful for the way she already thinks about helping with the new baby and giving the new baby things... even if there is a hidden agenda sometimes. I'm grateful to be so blessed with a beautiful, smart, independent, loving, and cuddly daughter. I'm grateful to have another on the way and I'm excited to see what personality she will have in store for us.
When do you feel the age conundrum? Do you ever just have a day where you wish you could just be rocked?
May today remind us that where we are is a pretty great place too. May we have hopeful eyes for the future and appreciative eyes for the past but find gratitude and peace here in the present. Have a beautiful day!