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 3 year old DS1 has exceptional leadership skills (which means he's a right bossy boots!).

Not long ago we were talking about us all going round for a family dinner for his Nana's birthday and he asked her what games she was playing at her party. When she said she hadn't planned to play any games, he said, "Don't you worry Nana - I'll fix your party for you." I then received my instructions about what to buy for pass the parcel and how to wrap it as well as what to put on Nana's playlist for the rest of the games.

On the evening he bullied organised 9 adults into playing Pass the Parcel, hide and seek, musical statues and holding a dance off while he controlled the music on my Ipad. He even let Nana win pass the parcel. She was delighted with her dinosuar!

I have a six year old who is already quite fierce in her desire for independence. It started with deciding on her own school meals, dressing herself for years and going to the toilet alone when we were out. Now she offers me advice on 'her best way of doing things' and thinks she could happily run the household. I also have a younger son who thinks he never has to move out and I'll look after him forever.

I have become used to feeling like a spare wheel already at times with my 2 and 4 year old as they insist on dressing themselves, going to bathroom on own. I can cause huge offence if, whilst in a hurry, I deign to unbutton their coat for them or help in anyway. However, the real leap in independence I observed was the independence of thought my 4 year old daughter recently demonstrated.

My daughter loves looking out of the window on the tube and she must have noticed that adults don't tend to get as excited about looking out of the window as kids do. When she noticed another adult looking out of the window, she said, 'Why are they looking outside, they're an adult!' I said adult's could look outside if they wanted to as well, it's a free world!'. She then looked at me quizzically as if what I had said was clearly nonsense and said, 'But it's not a free world, is it? What about those people in prison, they cannot do what they want. Adults have to go to work, we have to go to nursery. We need money, it's not free!' I couldn't believe what I had just heard, so philosophical, couldn't have put it better myself!

Whenever I try and throw anything vaguely useful away, son always says “never know what might come in handy” and wants to keeps it, gets it from his dad

She wants to do everything including getting me dressed! " I am doing it my way is her favourite saying"

Our local park has a tiny 'zoo' (a couple of pigs a donkey and some chickens) that only has one way in and out. My son decided he wanted to walk round it completely on his own. The park was pretty jammed but i thought it was about time he started to have some independence so i told him he could and that I would stay on the bench outside. I wimped out last minute and ended up following him round hiding so he couldnt see me then running back to the bench just before he got out, i must have looked like a mad woman to anyone who saw me hiding behind bushes in the park!

My daughter insists on eating her food herself even if she is being really messy and has started to want to walk everywhere, but not wanting to hold your hand. She also knows what she wants saying 'mine' when she's claimed it, even if it's someone else's! She's 23 months old!

When my little girl eventually learned to ride a bike she was excited at being able to "drive" places herself, she literally assumed that it was like owning a car, haha!

Leaving home in a temper tantrum and floods of tears, threatening never to come back, and only getting as far as the front gate before thinking 'errrmm, where do I go now?'
Oh hang on, ..... that was me ;-)

Cleaning his teeth, he won't let me do them anymore shouting"I don't need any help!"

my son helped me a lot after my c-section

My six year old came upstairs with Toast and baked beans he'd cooked for me on Mother's Day.
Very nice, but it was 4.00 am in the morning!

My son thinks that we can join his older sisters and go and call for his friends on his own! :)

My nephew toddles alongside me, waving his hand in the air and shouting "no, no, no, no, no, no, no" when I try to hold his hand. It is the funniest thing I have ever seen. He looks like he is belly dancing.

Both my children have always been independent. I always had to buy my daughter velcro shoes as i was never allowed to touch them. She had to dress herself and put on her own shoes. Both my children decided early that they no longer wanted to wear nappies and were going to use the potty.

DD toddled down the corridor towards me with arms outstretched at about 20 months, proudly proclaiming "I do it Mama! I do it by mah OWN SELF!" I responded happily "Oh good girl! What did you do?" to which she excitedly told me "I pick mah OWN NOSE!!"... While proffering a particularly impressive bogey. Nice.

"daddy, I don't want them silly little wheels on my bike" - Kyan aged 3! he had a big boys bike for his 3rd birthday, he refused to have stabilisers on from day one. within 2 days he had mastered it! a year on there's no stopping him, he rides to nursery everyday!

At 2, Emily is very territorial and possessive about her thing. Me and mine are her favourite words. She is very independent and wants to do everything her way.

On holiday in the dominican republic my son luke at 2 ran onto stage and picked up the microphone and started entertaining the audience.

On holiday a few years back my son who was 4 decided to make a break for freedom after I put him to bed. He opened the window and legged it outside to play with the bigger kids who were still playing on the street (thankfully was a bungalow!) I only realised when there was a knock on the door 15 mins later.

starting school was a big independent leap - i was crying as moms do she was running and laughing shouting bye mummy!!

Ds6 has had very clear ideas about what to wear, and how his hair should be, from age 2

my daughter tried to push the dressed up bear off the stage at the disco so she could have the stage to herself ! - eek

We don't have a bath - just a shower. The boys were adamant that they can do it themselves. And now they do. The shower cubical is flooded with toys though...

Anjali was only one years old when she grabbed my toolbox and said she was going to build a doll's house.