When we were in Johnstown for Robert’s grandmother’s 90th birthday, we were talking to her about being the matriarch of such a good and large family. “Look what you did, Mama Ruth!” we laughed as we beheld the 50-some people there.
Margaret must have overheard this because I heard her tell a friend the other day, “We call her Mama because she made our whole family.”
This phraseology tickled me, but it also made me a little sad. Margaret is 7 now and is moving into older-child territory. She hasn’t said something little-kid-cute like that in a long time, and those occasions will become even less frequent.
There are all kinds of milestones in childhood. There are the obvious ones—walking, talking, riding a bike, going to school—and there are the ones that pass you by without you realizing. James recently fell asleep on Robert’s lap, which he hasn’t done in ages, and we realized that that may be the last time. Whenever that bridge gets crossed, we will not know it when it happens. We’ll only know it in retrospect.
I was telling a friend recently that the big milestones are great and worthy of celebrating. Potty training is a huge one. Caroline is now at an age where we can leave her by herself for short periods of time. Margaret is 8 months away from No More Booster.
But there are so many lesser-celebrated milestones that are just as delightful. Yes, every move towards independence is poignant. But from a parenting perspective, make life so much easier.
Let’s build a list of B-list milestones, shall we? Here are the ones that have made me rejoice recently:
- When they are tall enough to turn the faucet on and off themselves.
- When they can pour their own milk.
- When they can swim in the pool with you supervising them poolside, with a book.
- When they can wipe themselves successfully.
- When they can pack for a trip from a list.
What would you add?
tell “imagination” story - cooperatively
We crossed one recently - wakes up with an alarm and gets dressed without help or prompting
That’s HUGE.
1. When they make it through high school without being seriously bullied.
2. When they lovingly parent their own kids.
3. When they become a big brother to a less advantaged child.
4. When they pay their own bills.
5. When they make excellent life partner choices.
puts self through graduate school
That’s an a-list one!!
turn on the light switch
get up and go potty by themselves at night
play on playground while I read a book
Our three year old fell asleep on my lap yesterday, which she hasn’t done since she was about 8 months old. I rocked and enjoyed it while it lasted.
1. Gets up and plays independently, letting me go back to sleep.
2. Gets lost in a book.
Semi-related question to your “wipe themselves” milestone: When does that happen? Parker still can’t wipe her bottom after a BM and I’m not sure if she should be able to or what.
doesn’t like really loud noises and
doesn’t like to wipe his bottom or
use a towel to dry off
http://www.cafemom.com/answers/963863/Does_your_child_have_a_sensory_issue_but_not_autistic
James still can’t reliably. It’s been in the last year for Margaret (now 7). So we’re close on that.
saying “i love you, mommy/daddy” sans prompting.
First swear word.
First do-it-yourself bath done pretty well.
First load of laundry they wash themselves.
Learning to ride a bike.
First good adult-ish argument used to get what they want (clever bargaining!)
First overnight at someone else’s house.
First airplane flight.
Correct use of alarm clock or just clock-watching in general (don’t wake me up until 8!)
Tying one’s own shoes.
Hunter still pronounces his TH as F and is almost 9. I refuse to correct him.
<3
I’ve been away from my computer and just now seeing these. Wonderful list!
My oldest son is 46, the youngest is 39, but I still remember the feeling the day one learned to walk up and down the stairs without holding my hand and when the other could blow her nose!
Good ones!
A new one for me from this past weekend-first real rollercoaster ride! Now my five-year-old and I are rollercoaster buddies!
That’s a GREAT one!!
*able to walk in the school building alone (as opposed to being walked all the way to the classroom by me). Selam had to jump in the deep end on that one when I had shingles and couldn’t go in the school with her, but she’s kept it up. It feels so grown up to see the little bitty girl open that great big door by herself-from my car!
*able to entertain herself during a meeting or church. HUGE.
*recite her own (well, my own) phone number!
Being able to read to themselves
Using the boys bathroom at a store with mom waiting outside
learning to study for school
finding a website without help
Forgot to add…makes a phone call using good phone etiquette
That’s a great one!
Buys a car that costs more than $300.
Gets own car loan, without a co-signer. (HUGE)
Pays back student loan, on time. (HUGE-ER)
Breaks up with person who is really, really not a good person to be with.
Stays broken up.
Okay, clearly mine are adult milestones, but they happened to my children. So I’m counting them.
They never stop being our kids.