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

When potty training my twins I left the room and came back in to find twin 2 bent over and twin 1 wiping his bum for him, on my floor length cream curtains! And from that day on they independently toilets themselves (or each other ????)

One of my twins decides this is her usual stance after being told no! ????

Because of my bad back, I couldn't bed over the cot rails to get DS2 out, so we bought a cot bed which had removable cot bars in the middle. I could remove the bars and slide DS in and out of the bed. When he was about 18 months old, one morning he suddenly appeared at the side of our bed, grinning like a Cheshire cat with the bars in his hand! He'd escaped! After that I let him take the bars out to get himself in and out of the bed, but had to install a safety gate at the top of the stairs to stop him wandering any further.

My DD today stated "stupid woman, I'm fed up of you two. Just don't talk to me for a while"

I love the fierce Independent toddler stage. DD took it a bit far with feeding herself the berries in the garden. Still we now know they aren't poisonous.

I imagine this thread is hard reading for parents whose children won't gain full independence.

We were on holiday recently and just after we'd been shown to our table, the waiter asked us what drinks we'd like with our meal. My assertive 4 year old proclaimed "I'll have the red* and daddy will have a beer please"
(*the red was apparently blackcurrant squash)

my niece aged about two always liked to dress herself and when we took her on holiday to scotland had even packed a pair of her mums heels into her case. I think this was a step too far in dressing up.

My daughter Cara who's 2 in October for the past few weeks as soon as we're done getting dressed in a morning and underused at night ready for bed she immediately picks her clothes up and runs to the washing basket and triumphantly and proudly puts her clothes in all by herself ??????????

My son has recently turned 6. At a cafe the other day he needed to go to the toilet. I said come on then let's go & got told in no uncertain terms "mom I'm a big boy now. I have to go to The boy's, but you can wait outside for me if it makes you feel better"
#realisingmybabyisabigboy was quite a moment! !

Last night my daughter (6) woke up for a wee. The toilet roll ran out, she changed the roll! Had to come into our bedroom to get a new one and put it on the holder, then returnedto bed. I slept through it...!!
All the more surprising as my DH can't manage this yet!

My darling son is so independant that he refuses to let me open things/tie his laces or listen to me (like when he wants to wear his wolf costume over his pyjamas and i tell him he'll be too hot 'no my won't be' is reply and then lo &behold 60 seconds later.... 'get this off me mummy, my too hot!' )

My 2 (nearly 3) year old daughter loves to assert her independence every day, myself or partner aren't allowed to help her with anything her favourite phrase is "no my do it" and if she can't do it a tantrum commences which can include anything from screaming at the top of her lungs to throwing things and sitting on the floor banging her heels off the floor amongst other things until she decides to ask mummy and daddy for help, she loves to try to do something herself first I think that might come from having 2 older brothers aged 14 and 6

I don't have a child myself however my mum likes to tell this story about how I (at the age of 3) packed a lunchbox of essential items (a doll and a dummy) and declared that I was "running away because it's not my fault I was born!"

Our little guy is really causing grey hair... His recent one was to demand to go out to play football but it was bath time. Daddy was running the bath and our wee monster unlocked the front door and went to play football in the garden. Complete heart failure when we realised he wasn't in the house but happy to find him in the garden. Went to bring him and at only 23 months - he's shouting "Noooo way, Ball!". This wee guy is our third son and absolutely wild. Face of an angel too!

My 3 year old son independants are waking up at 4am every morning and so far had unlocked my bathroom door, got hold of my gloss paint and painted my bathroom and himself, he walked into the living room and woke me up shouting me saying, 'look mummy, i can paint to' I had a nice carpet with foot prints all over my floor and a nice bum print on the sofa

When our daughter was 11 months old, we woke one morning to find her stood next to our bed. She had somehow climbed out of her cot, climbed over her safety gate and walked to our room to wake us up. We knew then that she was going to do things her way, how and when she wanted!

My ds who w is 4, sat himself at the table to do his homework all buy himself and unprompted. He had to right out a few times the numbers 1-10. I was so proud of him (even though some were the long way round) he is very much independent often saying "I can do it mammy"

My little boy turned 2 in March and we have just started potty training last week. Within 2 days he was telling me he could 'manage' and to get out and shut the door!! ????????

7 year old Alfie, declared over breakfast that he didnt like cereal and from now on wanted toasted tea cakes with jam hahahahaha

My son was a very independent toddler and was quick to potry train because he wanted to be in big boy pants and whilst visiting an adventure park in Devon (his first trip out in big boy pants) he announced in the middle of the park he needed the toilet so knowing we were quite far from the toilets and out walking in the woodland area I told him to quickly pee up the tree while no one was around so before I had chance to stop him he pooped rite there and then in the middle of the park and then screamed at the sight of his poop he was horrified lol he screamed so loud that people came to see what had happend which made him scream even louder because people looked at his poop too neadless to say we haven't been back to that park lol

When my son was younger I said to him at dinner after he had drank alot of juice "plese don't drink anymore, you'll be weeing all night " and defiantly he pushed his plate away and said "well I better not eat anymore else I'll be pooing all night!"

There have been numerous little hints that DS1 is a strongwilled child with a mind of his own, from slowly and deliberately shutting the door in DPs face (aged 5 months) to closing the latch and locking DP outside the kitchen (sensing a pattern here...), but I did have a real sentimental moment when DS stripped all his clothes off and wobbled over to the washer where he put them inside. He shut the door, switched it on and pressed the start button. He's only just one, hoping this means he'll take charge of laundry in our house by age 3!

When my daughter managed to get dressed on her own. We were incredibly proud but felt a little teary!

My DD, at just 4, led her reception teacher a merry dance. When the teacher was off sick, DD pretended she couldn't read so the nice supply teacher read to her. Also, DD ate the teacher's cake one day! It was a birthday and everyone had had a piece, DD was clearly hungry and took her chance when teacher's back was turned. I was mortified!

My eldest is four - and finds new ways to become independent almost every day - today he decided that he doesn't need Mommy to help to change his first calendar anymore and in fact he is going to be in charge and teach his younger brother the days of the week, so sweet to hear him teaching Jack how to chant the days of the week next door whilst I'm banished to the living room xx parenting already at the age of 4 xx