Independence: Check

Colby, what do you think this baby is...boy or girl?

A boy...a girl won't work!

What? A girl will work just fine! We will be happy with a boy or girl, right?

No, it's a boy and his name is Bob!

Bob?? I'm not sure if I like Bob.  Besides, it could be a girl and Bob isn't a girl name.

What about Bob the builder?

Ummm...still not a girl name.

IT'S A BOY!

You have a brother, don't you need a sister?

Not this time!

What do you mean not this time?

We are having 8 more babies!

How would you take care of 8 babies?

I tell them, "you not suppose to do that!"

Wow! I wish it was that simple...then you would obey every time!!

Yea!


Since we are having eight more babies, I had to get the ball rolling with Colby's independence!
When this baby arrives in 5 months, Chase will only be 19 months so I need Colby surviving on his own with certain life skills.

The first skill we tackled was getting dressed all by himself.

Hanging up this step-by-step chart did the trick........

I lay his clothes and shoes out, he does the rest!! The best part.....no more GET YOUR CLOTHES ON power struggles! AMEN!

Next, buckle himself up in the car seat.

This one took a lot of patience, since it took a lot of time. The first week of mastering this skill was tedious....it took him about 15 minutes each time! Not that I have to remind anyone, but he can be very strong-willed so he would not give up and would not let me help at all.

Practice paid off and he now buckles himself up in a minute flat!

This was a must since I will have THREE car seats in my mommy mobile. Colby will be all the way in the back of Oddy, and this mamma is not about to climb to the back every time we load up!

So....

Wipe own booty: check

get self dressed: check

buckle up alone: check

Now, if I could just get him to cook dinner, clean the house, and potty-train Chase......WE WOULD BE COOKIN WITH GAS!

Until Next Time........