A 7 Year Old's Independence

You know, for those of you that have kids, we want to make sure that we raise our kids to be independent. To think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions. Well, what can I say other than the fact that we are so stupid sometimes.....

You know, not too long ago, my 7 year old mastered the telephone. She would answer it when my mom (her Ga-Ga) called. She would tell me what her phone number was. It was all so cute. And then it happened.....

I would be doing something around the house and the phone would ring. And I noticed that it stopped after a ring. Did not think a lot of it, but later found out that she answered it. Cute you say, well, tell that to the telemarketer that called to sell us a water softener. Good news for him, bad news for me. He sold 12 of them to my house that day. Guess her mom showed her how to memorize credit card information as well... Yeah, you laugh now. Wait til you open your Christmas present.

But I found out how this independence came back to bite me a few days ago.

A few months ago, I got a call from here while I was at work. It was so cute. She called me on her own to tell me how much she missed me. I know, I know, isn't that adorable? I told everyone at work how she did it and they all thought it was cute.

But that was a couple of months ago, remember? Well, Monday she called me to tell me about something her friends did. I will spare you the details but it involved her friend, her friend's sister, a frog, a key turtle and a house. As you read this, you probably thought the same thing that I did when I heard it... HUH? Well, ten minutes later, I figured it all out. Made me not appreciate it anymore.

Then another thing clicked with me. She was whispering. I then asked why, followed up with, "Where is Mommy?" And I got the reply back, "Dad, don't tell her we talked about this." Well, then mom got on the phone. Turns out the whole frog thing was a touch subject....

So, raise your kids to be independent, but let me give you one extra criteria to add to their independence. When they feel the need to express their independence. Give her the phone number of someone else! Let them deal with. If I am making her independent, why involve me in the first place??

Tuck OUT!