Soooo independent - this will be a good thing eventually surely??????

[Doubletroublenodoublelove]

3 year old mini terrorist, currently has to do absolutely everything herself. I love that she is so independent but Jesus Christ it takes so long to do anything!!

please tell me that this “lovable” quality will pay off eventually

It does yes, when you can get them doing jobs for you or when they can get themselves up, dressed and make their own breakfast! However they will probably be very stubborn and strong willed which can be very testing at times 😬

I have a DD now 15 who was just like this aged 3. It is hard when they are little, but definitely is a positive personality trait in the longer term. She has an amazing work ethic (provided she's interested in the task) and will find work arounds and solutions for herself, without expecting hand-holding. She is also socially independent - enjoys doing things with her friends but brave enough to do stuff by herself. (I was supposed to take her to the cinema last week to see the new Marvel film but had I Covid, so she went on her own. Older, more compliant DD still wouldn't do that.)

Ok so this is a complete subject change, but currently in soft play with my 3 year old twins, a woman has just come in with her two kids, maybe 5 & 7 and then said ok kids have a good time, you know where the toilet is, I’ll be outside with Auntie Whatsherface if you need anything knock on the window 😳😳 I mean come on is that not completely unacceptable.

They’ve sodded off into the adjoining pub now to order some food.

Totally out of order. I expect the staff would have something to say if they were aware.

Yes one of mine is very similar and it was great in lockdown as they just got on with their work independently. Also not particularly swayed by friends, so will do things independently. The key is to ensure at an early age that you get in messages about values and behaviour so they don't want to for example drink or take drugs. Mine would not be likely to be a sheep taking drugs because their friends did, they would not however listen to us now telling them not to take drugs. It has to be their idea on their terms.

5&7 is far too young to be left alone, but you will find your independent 3yr old is ready for that independence before you are. Much easier though with an independent child than having to cajole a tearful child to go on a school trip.

I have found that a child's desire to help is inversely proportional to their ability to help as they age.

I'm 46 years old and my family still to this day mimics toddler-me saying "I do it, I do it, I DO IT!" and "You INTERFEEEEEERING!" which were apparently my catchphrases when I was 2-3 years old. I obviously don't remember this but I'm told I wanted to do everything for myself and would literally take myself into the corner and face the wall in order to, for example, put my shoes on to stop people from helping me.

I wouldn't say I have an amazing work ethic or anything as an adult, but I am still very good at doing stuff independently and a very good problem-solver, good researcher etc. When I was at school, independence and self-sufficiency was the thing I was always most praised for.

'Don't help me Mommy!!!!' 'I Do IT!!!' I must hear that 20 times a day from 2yo dd. I'm sure it will work in her favour in the long run, and I can't get too mad since it's me she gets it from, but for the love of god, if she would just let me help her occasionally!

enjoys doing things with her friends but brave enough to do stuff by herself

This is DD. She doesn't actually care if people like her, although she has a lovely friend group now. Her catchphrase at 2 was "TEP" for 'step'. Because she wanted to do everything and wasn't tall enough and I used to hide the step to stop her getting at everything.

You soft play people are insane. Are the staff aware?

The pain is real!! DD was 3 last week and overnight she has become Miss Sassy Pants who can do it all because 'she a big girl'.

I've created a monster! She is constantly wanting to 'help me' with everything, I had to draw the line when she tried to help me wipe in the bathroom! 😳🤣

My 6 year old was the same, even putting shoes and socks on her older brother who couldn't do it himself as he has sen.
It has paid of, I mean she has her moments but she is a very helpful and independent that doesn't need to much help for most things now and can do it at a reasonable time.

Yes it is a good thing! I had a very independent DD who is now 8 and she is SO self sufficient. Unfortunately she also did everything for DS when he was little (she’s 2 years older) - at the time I thought it was very sweet but he’s now 6 and it is quite a struggle to get him to do things for himself!