Share how your child staked their claim for independence with Royal Caribbean - you could win a 4 day trip for your family on Independence of the Seas! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

To help celebrate both Independence Day and the news that Royal Caribbean's cruise ship, "Independence of the Seas" will be sailing from Southampton again next year, the team there would love to hear your stories of toddlers and children staking claims of independence.

Royal Caribbean say "we know that once they've mastered a few key words, your little ones are keen to do things their way! From Great Cot Escapes to Fashion Showstoppers, we want to hear about these mini adventures and, in return, one lucky Mumsnetter will win a family holiday on board our luxurious and innovative ship, Independence of the Seas (the UK’s favourite cruise ship), in 2016." This is worth approx £2,200!

"Independence of the Seas will be sailing on a selection of voyages from Southampton to Europe and the Mediterranean and is packed with great on-board experiences to keep every member of your family entertained. From the FlowRider® surf simulator, a rock climbing wall and ice-skating rink to cantilevered whirlpools and complimentary Broadway-style entertainment – there’s something for everyone.

The beautiful ship also offers a complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program, Royal Babies® and Royal Tots® programme, Teen lounge areas and disco and H20 Zone™ kids’ waterpark. Itineraries include an exciting selection of three to 14 nights sailings from Southampton- including three and four night mini breaks to Paris and Bruges, seven night cruise itineraries to France and Spain, and a number of 14 night breaks from Southampton to the Mediterranean with its wonderful beaches, historic cities and idyllic coastal towns".

So, please post on this thread the most memorable stake for independence claimed by one of your children - everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter - picked at random - will win a family holiday on board Independence of the Seas in 2016. Subject to MN Insight T&Cs as well as the additional T&Cs from Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean sails to over 260 amazing destinations around the world. From Barcelona to Barbados, Australia to Alaska – via their fleet of 23 ships - for further information about Royal Caribbean’s award-winning holiday experiences, please visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, or visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

My daughters are both stubborn, the eldest keeps trying to put on her own pants and trousers, I can do it! She sometimes puts her pants on the wrong way and trousers are back to front, but no she wants to do it! My youngest can't speak much yet, but will stamp her feet when she wants to do something herself and she had taken to throwing herself out of your arms when she wants to get down!

My two DS' feel most independent when I let them cycle around the farm by themselves. The look on their faces the first time I said "yes" was magical! I hide behind a hedge and watch them though, but they don't need to know that!

I'll never forget the time we were at a play park, and my 4 year old son saw a little girl sitting by herself. He said to me "she looks sad that she is alone" and then walked over to here and invited her to play with him, first in the sandpit and he gave her his spade to use, and then on the swings, pushing her for the next 10 minutes until she had to go home. I thought it was such a grown up thing to do, and he did it all by himself. An independent moment that was truely inspiring to all those around him!

My year old likes to brush his own teeth :) xx

My daughter aged 8 asked if she could go by bus with friends to Newcastle city centre I of course said no not without supervsion of an adult, she rang me to tell me she was on the bus but safe so that i would not worry about her EEK

Oldest son thinking he could walk to nursery on his own!! turned to close the front door and he was nowhere to be seen!
Frantic about him, a neighbour said he's just around the corner!! When I caught up with him he said he's a big boy now and can go on his own!! Don't think so hunny!!

A few weeks ago my nearly-four-year-old daughter, who had crept into our bed and lay beside me asleep, woke up in the middle of the night for a few seconds and said angrily to me "I don't belong to you!" before promptly falling back asleep again! She's extremely independent-minded and has never looked back at nursery drop off.

Independence of the Wees: My boy just poured wee over himself in an attempt to independently empty his potty into the toilet!

When she was about 2.5, DD1 woke up one morning and rather than get us up she decided she was going to make herself some breakfast.

So she headed downstairs, slid a chair over to the counter and climbed up to get herself a bagel. Then she moved the chair, opened a high drawer we'd thought was inaccessible and fetched the bread knife.

However, she knows she's not allowed to mess with sharp knives... So she then proceeded to bring the knife and bagel up the stairs to me in bed.

The drawer with the knives rapidly acquired a child lock...

my son makes us breakfast in bed every sunday!

Independence at an early age!

My DS at the age of just 16 weeks could wriggle down in his car seat and end up sat on his knees on the floor. I don't know where he thought he was going as he couldn't crawl so he used to end up on his knees kneeling forward into the car seat.

He was very very active from the word go.....seven years later he was diagnosed with autism and accompanying ADHD, I think the signs were there from the beginning.

when my 4 year old son told me he could shower by himself as i stood on the other side of the shower curtin i heard i no your there so i stepped out side the door only to here the new full bottle of shower gel sounding empty i peeped around the shower curtin to see him looking like a big bubble montser and the empty shower gel bottle lying in the bottom of the bath

She was 2 years old the first time she refused to wear a dress. We had a 20 minute disagreement which she won after I realised that it really wasn't important. From then on it was a steady change which was pointless to resist, no more hair bands, no more pink clothes, dinosaur trainers, a batman cap... Now, at 5 years old I have a daughter who will only wear boys clothes and boys uniform to school, tells the lady at clarks that she wants to choose from the boys section, chooses pants instead of knickers, insists on a short hair style after attempting to cut it herself, wants to change the pretty name we gave her to a boys one, and is adamant that she will cut off her boobies when she grows up!! ???? Despite the fact that she faces criticism for not being society's idea of a typical little girl, she has a confidence that I am in awe of. She strolls into parties in a suit and tie and isn't remotely bothered that people stare! It may turn out to be a phase, she may be a tomboy or she may be transgender, I don't know and I don't mind either way, but one thing I do know for sure, my 5 year old daughter is more independent and has more confidence than most adults. She is not afraid to be herself no matter what anyone else thinks and I couldn't be any more proud!

After 2 weeks of peter and jane, D decided she knew enough and refused to let us help, she taught herself to read and moved on extremely quickly after that. She has never stopped!

My 4 year old (at the time) daughter terrified me by disappearing for 20 minutes one day. She re-appeared with a bag of sweets saying she was hungry and wanted some sweets so walked all the way to the local corner shop to buy some (with her pocket money!) It was about 7 minutes walk there so quite a way! I was searching everywhere for her and out of my mind with worry. She was as cool as a cucumber.. and still is!

having her own patch at the allotment - note Mum is still expected to water it but also has to ask permission if any of the herbs or produce are to be used

My 2year old likes to unlock the front door when we come home from going out. She knows which keys on my bunch of keys will open the front door, she will get it in the lock herself, turn it and open the door. She is so pleased with herself when she does it

It must have been when he was 3+, we bought individual packs of popcorn and used to make them for him as a treat. He must have been watching, cos one morning I heard the microwave beeping. He'd used the washing machine door as a step to boost himself onto the worktop and had somehow got a packet of the popcorn and had put it in and got it microwaved. Guess he didn't know how to open the door though. From then, he used to want to do everything himself, though for his safety and my sanity I had to persuade him that it was best if he had help or if I did it for him in most instances. Safe to say we didn't leave the microwaved plugged in after that.

First night in a cot bed so we put a baby gate on DS2s doorway. We needn't have bothered because we came up to bed to find a Duplo crate one side of the gate, the bathroom stool the other and escaped DS2 asleep with DS1

When my son was 5 he left home. He didn't like living with me any more because I wouldn't let him do the things he wanted to do. He was off to live with one of my neighbours. He packed up his rucksack with his Thomas the tank engine toys, popped on his coat and pootled along to my neighbours house, knocked on the door and told her he was living with her now. Once he was in, I popped along and lovely neighbour said he was more than welcome to live with her for a couple of hours but then she had to go to ASDA for some shopping. He did move back home and nothing more was said.........

"does daddy help you get your pants on.no so get off mine !!"haha

Jordan our 4 year old son went on Independence at the age of three and the ship, and in particular the staff in the kids club, really did help him to become independent. As soon as he went to the kids club on board he was not quite out of nappies and he had a few accidents that the RCCL staff were amazing at handling. When we told him he may not be able to go to kids club again if he didn't remember to ask the staff when he needed the toilet he wanted to be out of his nappies straight away. When he used to have an accident we used to say "Don't worry Jordan it's not the end of the world". These famous last words now come out of his mouth every time he spills a drink, knocks something over or trips or falls. Despite his independence never getting the better of him, when he does have a slight hiccup he always says to us both "Don't worry Daddy, its not the end of the world is it". This always makes his two daddies chuckle and nothing then appears to be so serious after all. Thanks to Independence and the crew for giving our son his first independence.

My daughter is 20 months and she is asserting her independence constantly! Last week we had a conversation about how she must hold someone's hand when we are out. Her response was to clasp her hands together and proclaim she would hold her own hand!

My little fella quietly got out of his buggy whilst I was talking to my friend at the park yesterday morning and decided he would make the most of the great opportunity of not being noticed by cooling off in the muggy heat by taking a shower running through the water fountain!! I had no change of clothes with me and it was a half hour walk back home.

When my dd1 was younger she'd dismiss her dad from her room at bedtime after a book and cuddle she'd declare 'you can go away now'

Ds2, when he was a toddler, would stomp his foot and shout 'I'm not!' whenever I'd ask him to do something.