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

[vickyistillysmummy]

My 19 year old daughter became independant when she went off to start her own little family...... This mummy didnt like it, but its the start of her future and I am behind her all the way. My 5 year old became independant, when i was ill one day and she had to get a taxi to school. Since then she declares everyday that she can go to school herself - I dont think so Madam, its a mile down the road haha!

[teddygirlonce]

Hmm DD seemed to be born fiercely independent - she's certainly always known her own mind and even as a baby wouldn't keep gloves, sunhats etc...on if she didn' think she needed them. She's still very much like that. Wanting to walk (half an hour's journey) to school from beginning of Year 4 (access currenly denied).

DS totally the opposite still.... and he's older...

[SquarePeggyLou]

When my daughter went to a new school I had arranged to go into work late to take her. We parked the car and she told me to go to work as normal because she was going to walk to school from there with her big sister.

[LucyC19]

My little boy was not very happy about having muddy trousers. He was demanding that they be taken off in the middle of the field. When he worked out that he couldn't quite manage it this was his final decision. That they looked much better pulled up above his knees.

[Jaffakake]

Ds1, just short of 3 years old at the time, was found in his bedroom one morning desperately trying to put his pants on, over his clothes mind you. He'd decided he didn't want nappies anymore. After no more than 2 teeny accidents he was potty trained! A triumph for independence and lazy parenting!

[rupert23]

my eldest son when he was about six made me breakfast in bed for mothers day which consisted of tea with luke warm water as he wasnt allowed to boil the kettle, burnt toast, which was cold as he had buttered it slowly and covered thickly in jam. i had to eat it all and drink the tea as it was my mothers day treat! how sweet he was. i remind him now and we laugh about it hes seventeen now.

[justcheese]

When DS was two and i took him swimming he didn't like me holding him in the water. He kept shouting 'BY MYSELF, BY MYSELF MUMMY'. Not that he could swim mind!It was only when i let go for a moment he realised he did in fact need me!

[mrsmay2505]

My 2 year old son has a slight speech delay but is finally overcoming it and his favourite word at the minute is no! He will flick through Netflix on the TV (he can get to it himself using just the remote control) and say no to everything until he finds what he wants. If I'm flicking through for him and put something he said no to on there is hell to pay! He certainly knows what he wants and always has! Even as a tiny baby he was happier playing on a play gym or sat in his bouncer than being held for too long

[BinturongBethy]

In the car I was eating a chocolate bar... DS said he wanted a bite... I said no, you've eaten your biscuits... he said "want bite NOW"!!
I said definitely not!!!
He then started shouting "I WANT A BITE"
I just laughed at him and said no, why are you shouting?... he said
"It's not funny!!"

• no idea where this sudden teenager came from! -hoping he'll not stick around, but it was very funny to hear this coming from a 22month old!

[claireehmurray]

My daughter decided that she didn't want baths anymore... this was the outcome :(

[lyns2282]

My 3 year old recently had her photo's done so we could update the family album. She refused to wear any of the dresses I choose opting for a fairy deess the photographer had

[Chocolatewaterfalls]

My 7 year old informed me the other day not to worry when he moves to Paris with Katie because I can Skype/tweet and Facebook him!

[lyns2282]

My 22 month old refuses to let anyone feed her and will throw all her food away before she lets us near. We now have loads of plastic covers over all our kitchen area as she makes such a mess x

[claireehmurray]

And by the way... this is what she was before toddler defiance kicked in!

[MakeTeaNotWar]

DS tried to assert his independence from a very young age by taking off his nappy to let me know when he'd done a poo. Cheers DS

[LentilAsAnything]

My two children both have independence-themed names (outs self). Royal Caribbean can find out what they are when they offer us this prize!

DD is only a few weeks old, so not super independent yet.
DS walked at eight months, having already mastered the climbing wall DH built for him a couple of months earlier - always adventuring, that one. He takes himself off round the rapid river (without any floatation aids) at our local pool by himself - he is just four. The lifeguards know him and know his ability, so allow it - the usual age for letting them go round the rapid river on their own is eight!

[Chri55y1984]

I took my little boy to a public bathroom, it was very busy but he wanted his own cubicle. After about 10 seconds he shouts "tell me when you've finished and I'll wipe your bum" I could here sniggers and when he came out of the cubicle he announced to everybody " I can wipe my own bum now". Lovely people in the bathroom all clapped and cheered

[manfalou]

Shortly after coming back from a lovely sunny break in Malta, it was raining and cold here back home in the UK. I went upstairs to find our 4 year old packing his little suitcase (full of all the essentials such as toy cars and dinosaurs of course... Oh and 2 pairs of pants which I was actually quite impressed at!). The conversation was like this:

Me: what are you doing?
Ds1: packing my suitcase
Me: why? Where are you going?
Ds1: back to malta where it's sunny, I don't like rainy England and I can't build a sandcastle
Me: oh ok, where are you going to live?
Ds1: I'm going to live on the beach, I'm going to sell sunglasses to all the people to get pennies like the other misters do

Didn't half make me chuckle at how serious he was! A few years were shed when I broke it to him that he couldn't live on the beach in Malta.... Or sell sunglasses for a living

[swones]

My 18 month old decided to cook dinner the other day. Managed to turn on the grill and took a packet of frozen mince from the freezer. I found him trying to open the oven door which, luckily, has a lock on it and put the packet in. Grilled frozen mince in a plastic container wouldn't have been the best meal!

[Kirstyanne87]

I have 3 kids 2 boys and a girl. I used to always say to their dad it was his responsibility to toilet train the boys and if we ever had a girl it would be my job, any way my girl is the youngest so I got away with a few years. Of course learning from their dad they always pee'd standing up (like big boys do) from the age of 2 which I always thought was very independent of them as well as the wee shake at the end ???? now my little girl is 2 and is eager to learn how to use the potty we have noticed she has no intrest in sitting on it and tries to stand over it and looks confused at the end when she has nothing to shake so she just shakes her bum instead lol. The joys of being the minority in a very boyish household ????

[ChrisDeacon]

Her first step to independence was arranging her own driving lessons..aged 25 !

[animaldyoll]

My Dd2 had a appraxia of speech, we downloaded AAC talk app to my mobile phone and she then proceeded to order her dinner every night ????

[Lizlawford1906]

Since my son could walk he was a rascal and never listened to me, he's 6 now and does what he wants, back chats and so cheeky!
We went on a cruise in September 2013 with royal Caribbean adventure of the seas and loved it, however I know this sounds awful but our son was hell bent on ruining the holiday throwing tantrums, running around, refusing to go to the kids club(we had to literally drag him) and once in the middle of a hissy fit he knocked over my very expensive bottle of wine in the restaurant. Half way through our holiday me and my partner were planning on going back home!
Please pick us, he's a bit older now and he isn't (as) bad.
I'd really love the chance to go again.
Thank you!
Liz

[OutOfCigarettes]

My DC4 knows his own mind that's for sure. However our little act of independence turned out to be a big deal. We had been to visit nanny and grandad and on mentioning the need to go home to get his siblings from school he shouted that he did not want to leave. After a 5 minute tantrum about how he wanted to stay with nanny, MIL said leave him here and we'll bring him back tomorrow.
Later on the school run a man rear ended us very hard and hit the corner where DC4 would have been sat in his car seat. So one small act of independence meant he didn't suffer any injuries in a car accident.

[BekiBooG]

Every night before bed, my 18m fiery l, red headed and very independent toddler shuts the door whilst saying Baaa! (Bye) And waving! I think she's trying to tell us something...don't you? It's strange because she was so clingy as a baby, and it changes so fast! But I truly believe in the 'children must be dependant on you as a parent before they can become independent' quote.