Happy Independence Day (mid-Summer)

A few weeks ago, Jonathan began with, "Le' me do it myse'f!" So I grinned and put my hands away, to give him space for independent expression. Self-governance is after all, just the quality we want to build into these offspring of ours. One morning, after I handed him his sandals, Jonathan succeeded in getting them on the correct feet, then put out his tongue in concentration on the straps. In short order, he gave it up: "Mama, you he'p me do it myse'f?" I relish this. I should know, by now, as a mother of six, that the very beginnings of independence are not the end of all dependence. But I find myself relieved to be invited to help.