Kids really say that.

My 3 y.o. just said it again.  This time, we were talking about pulling up his pants post-potty.  If I’m willing to overlook the occasional twisted waistband on his Thomas the Tank Engine underpants, he’s absolutely right.  

No need for you, Mommy.

Of course, all this is fluid.  It’s been months since he started insisting “I do it self!”  And the list of things that he is willing to handle solo changes day to day, depending on his mood.  In fact, they depend on who’s around.  Being a toddler and therefore an absolute genius at reading people, he knows when his doting grandparents are around and behaves like a prince surrounded by court jesters.

Which, you know, is a fairly accurate description.

But here’s the thing: it does take restraint on my part to let him do it himself.  After all, he wouldn’t have to protest that he can hoik up his own shorts, Ma! if I weren’t hovering, ready with the assist.

I’m no helicopter parent.  On the contrary, I’m an unapologetic slacker Mom, the one who lets her kid run a few paces ahead even in a crowd.  But you get into habits over time, and after months of hauling your helpless infant around like sentient luggage, little wonder we find ourselves playing valet to creatures quite capable of getting it done sans assistance.

While the part of me that is in a hurry - and despite having nowhere to go, I always feel rushed - still reaches over to zip his coat, fill his water cup, pack his toys up into his little airplane backpack, another part of me is learning to love his protest song.

My kiddo is growing up, and I can’t wait to see who he’ll become.  I only hope he embraces a desire to put his pants on straight, ’cause it’s driving me crazy not to straighten them.