Independance Day

Anyone that knows my parenting style very well knows that I believe kids should be supervised at all times. The younger they are, the more supervision that they require. With younger ones, my eyes are on them at all times. They tend to get into way too much, all at once.

Now, this usually isn't a problem, or at least, it wasn't. When Baby Bear moved back in with us in May, he also had this thing where he had to be able to see me at all times as well. I rearranged the house and his bedroom in such a way that no matter where I was, he could see me and vice versa. If I wasn't awake yet when he woke up, he'd sit outside my door yelling out "No see! No see!" He couldn't see me.

As time went on, he learned to knock on the door and say "Good morning!" to let us know he was awake. It used to be that I was usually up before him and so in his mind, mommy never slept. But, as we got him into daycare, I started working all day, and all night again. So on weekends, he now needs to wake me up.

Our hallways has our bathroom, our bedroom and his bedroom attached. We put up a baby gate to keep him in one area, with access to the bathroom, so that we know he's safe and he knows he's safe. It also keeps the dogs from pouncing him while he sleeps and licking his face.

Last week, I forgot to put up the baby gate one day. He woke up, came into the hall and stood staring at the place that the gate usually is for I don't know how long. The child was tremendously confused by the lack of a gate there. He didn't get itno anything. He just stood there, waiting for all to be right in the world again.

You can only imagine my surprise when I woke up yesterday! This time, he just unlocked my bedroom door and let himself right into the room.

"Mommy! Cara (our puppy) is getting my nose!"
"Honey, just back up. She can't get to you if you stay behind the gate."
"Gate is down Mommy."
"Well, who took the gate down, Little Man?"
"I did! I ate all your chickens too! It was so yummy!"

Yes, he was talking about the Chinese food that is so good, it deserved it's own blog entry. And yes, he really did eat ALL of it, all gone.

So, I come out of the room to discover
1) He took the gate down.
2) He let the dogs out of their cage.
3) He put one dog outside.
4) He already did his morning chore (feeding animals.)
5) I no longer had any Chinese food yummy goodness left.
6) We were now out of juice as well.
7) He really likes Brother's baseball caps.
8) Bubble solution is a lot harder to get off the floor in larger quantities.
9) Floor is spotless in one area (see number 8!)

Oh, and he also had his little Cars laptop set up on Brother's podium, and his "work phones" right beside him. So when I got up and came out, he sits down on the couch (he had it set up in my work spot) and says

"I play with you in a few minutes, Mommy. Right now, I working like craaaazy!"

I don't know if it was the taste of independance, or the Chinese food, but that kid was so hyper all day, but in a good mood at the same time. He was very "grown up" the whole day through.

Of course, when his nap was over, he wanted me to take the gate down for him.
"You take it down Mommy."
"But you took it down this morning. You can do it now."
"No Mommy. I no touch the gate again. I leaf it alone now."

Such is the world of a three year old! I guess he just wanted to show that he COULD do it. Either that, or he really does not like Cara licking his nose!