I'll Slide on My Own, Thank You!

Spend more than 30 minutes with Mimi and I guarantee that at some point within that half hour you'll make the observation, "That girl is really independent, isn't she?"  This, I'm afraid, is putting it lightly. 

Mimi has always been a bit precocious.  10 minutes out of the womb and nurses were already commenting on how alert Mimi was.  The girl was hyper aware.  Even at 2 months, when we first dropped her off at daycare, she put up a massive struggle.  And she never let it go.  She flat out knew we wouldn't be around and simply would not accept it.  At 8 months or so we tried to wean her from co-sleeping to sleeping in her crib.  This was back in New York when we still shared a bedroom.  No matter how exhausted she (or we) might be, Mimi would refuse to sleep if we were in the room.  She'd scream, cry, whine, bellow, and wail until we brought her back to bed.  Only then would she quiet down.  If we laid her down and stayed in the living room until she feel asleep, she'd still wake up once we came to bed in the middle of the night.  Even in her sleep she knew we were there.  Eventually Sumie and I had to sleep in the living room for a week to get Mimi used to sleeping in her crib on her own.

It's not just at home that Mimi's independence shines through.  Take her anywhere, regardless of crowds, and within a few minutes she'll be running off on her own.  She'll even run directly into the ocean (not the safest thing for a girl 19 months old).  But it's at the park that her independence really shines. 

It starts early, at home.  As I was unloading the groceries the other day Mimi was already at it.  She'd secured her sand toy bag and was chanting, "Go!  Go!" 

Groceries secured, I bundled Mimi into her new red wagon and we headed off for the park.  We sprinted down the hills, which resulted in giggles for Mimi, huffing and puffing for me.  As we entered the park Mimi came over all giddy.  I parked the wagon near the sandpit, thinking Mimi wanted to play with her shovel and bucket.  Wrong.  She immediately sprinted for the swings. 

From the swings we went to slides.  In the past, I'd have to guide Mimi over to the slide and support her on the way down.  Not this time.  She wanted nothing to do with me.  She was going to conquer the slide all on her own.  Without any prompting, she ran over to the bottom platform of the play structure: the toddler entry point. 

She then crawled through the tunnel...

and settled herself at the edge of the slide. 

This is normally when I'd support her back and help her down, safe and sane.  But not this time.  She kicked and flew!

Mimi cracked a huge smile when she hit the bottom of the slide.  She was upside down, but very, very happy.  She immediately dusted herself off and headed back for another go. 

Mimi's independence can be a bit frustrating at times - like when she decides it's time to write all over the leather sofa - but I'm so glad that she has it.  That drive, coupled with her curiousity, will take her far.  I just hope I'll be in good enough shape to keep up.