INDEPENDENCE

No fight fought for independence in the history can be as big as the fight toddlers give. This is not diplomatic or territorial, this is hormonal. This is not the fight on which the future of a country depends, it's the fight on which the whole human existence depends. OK, I am not exaggerating. If you see the repercussions of defeat in this battle, which is quite figuratively seen around us more often these days, you'll know what I mean. 

You see, the whole humanity thrives on the words, 'why' and 'how'. And of course 'why not'. And it all begins at this age. I know I have stressed on how troublesome toddlerhood is in my past blog posts but never mentioned how developmentally (and for humanity) it is important.

Saying that may make you a little milder towards your child but not completely scream free. And the reason is their ability to reason. The part of their brain that can reason, does not develop completely until they are five. So trying to explain them your point is, pointless. And around the age of two, the 'how', 'why' and 'why not' words are also not in picture. I mean, they exist but not as words but as actions and that makes you take a longer while to understand them. 

Example, A brought his shoes out and asked me to assist him wear those. Without a thought I took the right one and started putting it on his right foot, at which point he withdrew and put forward his left foot. I sensed it as a mischief and calmly picked up the left one and went ahead to wear it over his left foot. This time he retaliated again. He wanted to wear left shoe on right and vice a versa. Of course, as an extra smart mother, I tried to explain him. 🙄😌😂 Undoubtedly, a failed attempt! Then, I did as he asked me to. Thoroughly satisfied, he stood up and started walking away. Within seconds, he turned back and gave me a look. He got the answer for his unspoken 'why not'. And then on, he takes my approval on his shoe business.

They want to see, hear and feel everything by themselves and not just cramp their minds with your experiences. We would never stall some scientist in his laboratory while he is experimenting, would we? Then, just because these born scientists are experimenting something too obvious and something you have ingrained in your system, doesn't mean it's stupid or insignificant. The modern man is as astonished as the first cave man was when he discovered fire. 

They have to feel the fire to know it can be dangerous, they need to feel the wind to learn how to respond to it the next time it blows in their faces. This sounds dangerous. But you need a brave heart to raise brave humans. There will be skinned knees, broken nails, small burns, wounds and pain. But that's how they learn, that's how they evolve.

And that's how you save the humanity. 

Bingo..!! 

Yes, I mentioned something really scary here. But of course I do save him from doing stuff that can mean serious harm to him or people around him. You know, there are ways to play around their wild streak for independence. But that deserves another post. So wait for it.