She Wanted to Put on Her Own Shoes
(Growing Independence – the little acts that feel so big.)
She looked me dead in the eye this morning and said,
“No, Mama. I do it.”
Two velcro shoes.
One upside down.
One barely hanging on.
But the look on her face?
Pure victory.
I almost reached to fix them.
Almost said, “Let me just help.”
But I didn’t.
Because she didn’t ask for help.
She asked for space.
And that’s a different kind of love, isn’t it?
This stage —
this slow becoming —
it’s messy,
imperfect,
and wildly beautiful.
She wants to feed herself,
even when it means yogurt in her eyebrows.
She insists on brushing her teeth,
though mostly it’s just water and chewing on the bristles.
She pushes my hand away when I offer the sippy cup —
because she can do it herself now.
I used to rush these moments.
Try to make them neater.
More efficient.
But now I try to breathe and remember:
She’s not “testing” me.
She’s becoming herself
— one sock, one spoon, one wobble at a time.
So I’ve made little changes at home:
A low mirror where she can check her own outfit
A bin of clothes she can reach — soft, comfy, mix-and-match
Toddler utensils with chubby handles that fit her tiny grip
A small stool by the sink where she washes her hands and says, “Like Mama.”
Not to make her grow up faster.
But to let her feel capable.
To say with my setup:
“I believe in you, even before you fully believe in yourself.”
Toddler Handwashing Stool
She climbs up every morning, proud. It’s not just about hygiene — it’s about being included in the rhythm of our day.
Self-Dress Wardrobe Bin
I keep 3–4 outfits in a soft bin she can reach. She picks, mismatches, sometimes wears pajama pants to breakfast. And I let her.
First Utensil Set
Not perfect scooping. But perfect practice. She feels like she’s “really eating,” and I get to witness that spark of “I can” light up.
Some days I miss being needed.
The days when she reached for me before everything.
But now, I get to watch her reach for the world.
And that’s something, too.
Something huge.
Even if her shoes are still on the wrong feet.