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 little boy (5) was involved in a complicated game this morning, involving heros, adventures etc. When his father asked him if he wanted to help him with a rptask, my sons immediate reply was " no thank you daddy I'm busy with my hooker"

My husband and I stared at each other dumbfounded at what we had heard! Turned out however he meant his grappling hook for scaling heights! Lol :-D

My eldest had been helping Grandad pick black currants. Then she very helpfully took it upon herself to pick all the berries (ie flower buds) on Grandma's best fuchsia. Cue sterling efforts by Grandma to be pleased!

My daughter advised me, at the ripe old age of 6, that she no longer required our attendance on her walk to and from school. We delayed that decision for a few years though!

My two sons who are five years apart both rode their bikes without stabilisers on the same day. One was nine and the yougest was three, there was no way he was going to let his brother do something that he couldn't, at it's been like that a lot

My DS3 learned to tie his shoelaces onboard the Adventure of the Seas last November. At 9 years old, and with learning difficulties, this was a huge step towards independence for him.

My DD makes her sandwiches herself, to prepare for looking after her family when she is older

My little 4 year old has insisted for a while she makes her own breakfast but last week she even made our cereal and brought it to us in bed

when my autistic son who 12 and i have to dress,care,feed,wash every day, was excited to go and see minions @ cinema, he had been waiting for 9 months, got up early on the day, didnt say anything, run himself a bath!, brushed his teeth!wash his hair with shampoo!, and got dressed all by himself for the 1st time ever in his life!(clothes was back to front ect), i was totally amazed!

My daughter aged 6 used to have a poody if she was told off, and pack her little pink vanity case with toys, write a note saying she hated us, was leaving with the end "love ***,
my son who was 4 used to break his heart, she only ever got as far as the bottom of the garden gate and then used to look back to see if we were watching

My 3yr old daughter one morning proceeded to feed the fish (milk) every1 needs to drink mummy. Also the same day flooded my bathroom & kitchen the ceiling fell through. She was only cleaning apparently ???? I still watch the videos to this day of the aftermath hilarious little human she is ????

i was eating walnuts and did not have a nut cracker, so used the door frame to crack them lol, my partner came home from work n asked whats marked our brand new hinges on the door, i played dumb and said no idea, then our 2 year old daughter picked up the nuts and wedge one into door frame to crack, her dad wasnt amused! lol

My 4 year old loves to dress up and refuses to wear normal clothes most of the time. I love letting her have a bit of independence and choice so I don't mind the stares we get when I'm out with 'the little mermaid' or 'elsa' or whoever she chooses to be that day

My little girl (5 years) has always been independant - a couple of months before her fifth birthday, she informed me that as she is so grown up now, she is ready to move in to her own house and live on her own. She said it doesn't mean she doesn't love daddy and me any more but that it is the right time for her to be completely grown up. Also, last week she made daddy a cup of coffee (without boiling water) while I was in the shower and daddy was asleep.... There are hundreds more occasions but these both really stand out ?

I think the most shocking moment for me was last summer when we were on holiday. We have four children and have always been used to having a 'baby' around for the last ten years.

Last year all of our children went to the children's club unaccompanied for the first time. Our youngest daughter, who was four at the time, insisted she was a 'big girl' now, asserting her new-found independence. We wandered around planning how we should be enjoying our first few child-free moments in years, but talking the whole time about the children. Of course, when we collected them, they had had a whale of a time and were already planning what activity they would do next.

Unfortunately it was a camp site with limited options, but they made the most of it after that. As a parent, you will always worry, but I think you have to let them go to let them grow.

On holiday in Florence our little guy (two at the time) kicked off all the way up the seemingly endless flight of narrow, steep, dark, winding, concrete steps to the top of the duomo because my husband was carrying him and he wasn't allowed to climb them himself on his hands and knees (I was behind them having a panic attack from vertigo and claustrophobia) got to the top and he still hadn't forgiven us for this so he demanded to go back down and this time I had to carry him (cheers son). When we got back on the street there was a group of Harri Krishnas dancing. Little guy decides that actually he's had enough of both of us and is running away with them, has a dance with th and proceeds to try and follow them as they move up the street (not a single care was given about where me or his dad were) we were totally out of favour that day, think he just planned to run off and start a new life with people that wouldn't hold him back like we do lol ????

My 7year old has recently started showing her independence she said the other day why can't she get the train to London on her own! Just hope she's as confident when she's 18 :)

He wanted a coffee and daddy said no

When my son was 2 and a half I was getting worried because no matter how hard I tried I could not get him potty trained. Everyone was saying to me 'don't worry, he'll do it when he's ready'. One day I went to pick him up from nursery and they told me he had taken off his own nappy and gone and sat on the toilet by himself. After that it was only a couple of weeks until he completly stopped wearing nappies.

To many to put on one post so here's another.
Went to Rathlin Island when we lived in NI. It was a pretty miserable day but little guy was adamant he was paddling so 10 mins before the ferry was due to pick us up we finally cracked. Took his shoes and socks off and told him to go for it. He sprints off down the pebble beach dodges past my husband who dived like a goal keeper to try and catch him and dives head first into the freezing sea bay watch style with me a split second behind him.
I drag him out, put him down soaked through and absolutely freezing and he instantly attempts to do it again. He was not quite two at the time.

He's just turned three now (his birthday was yesterday) and so far this week he has informed us that he "will not be playing ball" when told to put his shoes on so we could leave the house and his perfect response to a telling off from his dad (who had listened patiently for about 45 mins to him wittering on about us not letting him get a toy that he wanted from the shop) was to wait patiently for his dad to finish talking and then reply very calmly "not cool daddy, not cool"
I suppose this is what we get for having a child born on Independence Day!

My eldest ds approaching a stranger and saying excuse me, my mummy can't find the right road could you show us please? He was 3 at the time!

My son's all about the independence and has been for a while. The main thing he gets really stroppy about (and has done since he was 3), is if someone else tries to serve his veg and potatoes from dishes on the table. He has to do it himself, and given half a chance he'd serve everyone's for them.

My 2 year old daughter Skye having the greatest sulk ever because I put my pop up pirate sword where she wanted to put hers!!

At the time my son was 2 years 3 months and my daughter was 9 months old. We spent many summer days at a local country park called Robin hill going on the 'tractor train' as my son was obsessed with tractors. One day while at home both kids were playing with Seb's tractor when Orla starts shouting 'tractor' 'tractor' I was in disbelief. She was 9 months old!! Especially as Seb didn't say a word until he was 15 months old and that was only uh oh!! I kept filmed Orla and getting her to repeat it and she was definitely saying it! Orla is now 21 months old and speaks in 9 word sentences, her speech and independence still amaze me everyday :) xxx

My eldest staked out his independence from a very early age - when he was 10 weeks old I had to return to work full time and he went to nursery 5 days a week. It killed me but within months I noticed a very confident bubbly child growing before me, he stayed at the nursery until he went to school, by which time he wa a very popular outgoing young boy with a great bunch of mates. In fact, he is still best friends with 3 of the other babies that attended the nursery with him. He is so independent, and although it was heartbreaking at the time leaving him there all week I know it shaped his personality and made him the amazing boy he now is.

I'm a lone parent and when dd was 4 we were going on rare week away. My dad popped over and He was telling us to enjoy ourselves and then said to me "make sure you are careful and look after her"

Without batting an eye or missing a beat dd replied very matter of factly

"Don't worry Bampa, I will!"

??