Surviving on Their Own

As a parents I think a lot of us want to believe that we are what makes the difference in our kids life, that they are our sole responsibility. Maybe all of this true but today I am pretty sure my 4 year old, excuse me,  4 1/2 year old as well as my 3 year old could survive on their own. Here is a list of things that they can both do on their own:

Get dressed: Although rarely weather appropriate or matching, approximately 2-18 times a day this is proven to me. 

Find food and eat it: Once Avalin and Maeve figured out how to open doors, including the refrigerator door, there was no longer hope that any food would be safe from consumption. I caught on pretty quick and the bottom two drawers of the refrigerator are usually filled with fruits and vegetables, if they are lucky cheese sticks. This resourcefulness does not end at home. At a recent wedding my 3 year old had brought a purse that when I opened it later found handfuls of peanuts, M&M's and mints.

How to open packages: If my girls want something open they will stop at nothing to figure it out. Teeth, pulling, the recent learned skill of cutting with scissors have all helped in opening mail, magazines, food and candy. Who knows why they enjoy opening mail, maybe to clutter the floor or just to have something cut into confetti.

Talk to anybody: This may not seem like a survival skill but when you are willing to ask the sample lady for some food while your mom is two aisles over frantically looking for you or asking a stranger to give you the penny they just picked up in the parking lot it may help a 4 year old to get a little further ahead. They also love to see people smile at them and tell them how wonderful they are. This has caused compliments to be yelled from the cart or car as we run errands, or play at the park.

They both seem to have a lot of determination and self confidence. Maeve is sure that even when I say know that I said yes and she can do whatever she wants as long as she does not talk to me about it again or hurt another person. Avalin is sure that she knows just about everything and if she does not know it she has no problem asking the same question to 20 people until she figures it out. I feel pretty happy that they have so much of this world figured out. I love that they yell mom 5 times in a row only to tell me they love me.