The Ten Most Underrated Parenting Milestones

You know how when you have a baby, every single thing it does is a miracle and you tell everyone about it? The baby looked at me! The baby blinked! The baby rolled over! The baby sat up! The baby crawled! The baby said a noise that might possibly be a word in another language!

Every single milestone was recorded on phones, written in books (but only for baby #1) and of course texted to various family members.

Years go by and finally, the last heavily celebrated milestone happens. The last one that everyone shares. Photos are taken and a very big deal is made. This one even makes it to social media. It’s the last hurrah of milestones and it is such a big event that the child is even paid money for it.

The first tooth is lost.

After that? Nothing. After a child loses that first tooth it all sort of drops off. Nobody is interested in children who lack teeth.

As it turns out though, good things continue to happen!

(This is a partial list. These are just the ones I’ve experienced so far with Crappy Boy. Those of you with kids who drive cars and have jobs are in a different dimension called the future. I can’t write about those things yet.) 

 

1 – Ability to Make a Sandwich (AND Clean Up)

It’s a miracle when this happens. A miracle. The ability to make a sandwich (AND clean up) will impact your life way more than the ability to roll over ever did. Why are we not texting this to the grandmas?

When your child can make their own sandwich and clean up and put everything away (including the plate that the sandwich was on) you will suddenly experience a freedom like none other. You can sleep in. You can go to Tahiti. You have basically just finished Advanced Parenting: Level One. You should celebrate.

SEE ALSO: Cereal. The ability to pour cereal without spilling anything.

 

2 – Ability to Teach You Things

I don’t mean teach you patience or any of that stuff that babies do. I mean actually teach you about things. Like the reproductive system of snails. Or that time that Crappy Baby taught me a shortcut on the computer that I didn’t know. Or the multiple times they have tried to teach me the rules of football and I can’t seem (don’t want?) to retain it.

This one is really amazing. Perhaps my favorite.

 

3 – Ability to Remember Things BETTER than You Can

It takes bravery to admit that your child  might already be more responsible than you are. So I won’t admit that.

 

4 – Ability to Sit in Any Car Without a Booster Seat

Ground-in cereal, chips and crackers have embedded themselves so firmly in the fabric over the years that I think his booster seat is actually made entirely out of food.

No more swapping it out between cars. No more lugging it onto an airplane or stressing over whether the rental car agency will have any available. This is yet another large kid gear item that I’m not at all sad to see burn.*

 

5 – Ability to Handle ALL Toilet Needs

Potty training is a big scam. It doesn’t end the moment a poop plops into the toilet, even though that is the moment that parents celebrate. If you remember from one of my old posts, your parenting life actually gets much worse after potty training.

Plus, there are months of accidents, improper wiping, checking their wiping, problems with buttons or ties on pants and all sorts of things that generally require you to still be involved in their bathroom visits.

Like this:

But the moment that is all over? The moment they can handle ALL of it and manage to even plunge the toilet all by themselves? That is when potty training is finally done. (I have written about our low-flow, eco-friendly user-enemy, clog prone toilet before. This is why plunging is a life skill in our house.)

 

6 – Ability to Go to Bed

Let me clarify. This means the ability to go to bed by himself without any (okay, much) encouragement from me. No teeth brushing fights. No eight part routine involving lights and blankets and books and glasses of water. No fighting, no sneaking back out hundreds of times.

Truthfully, it still isn’t always entirely smooth. Nobody actually wants to go to bed. And sometimes he takes ages to brush his teeth because he can’t stop talking for long enough to put a toothbrush in his mouth. But still, the fights are over and a peaceful “goodnight” with a hug is usually how it shakes down.

 

7 – Ability to Share Shoes and Clothing

The realization that Crappy Boy and I wear the same size shoes made me suddenly look at his shoe needs in a whole new way. Doesn’t he desperately need Converse low tops in a rainbow of colors? Like seven pairs? He does. I’m pretty sure he does.

Do you realize that at this very  brief moment in time, any shoes that he outgrows and hands down to Crappy Baby will then be handed down to ME?! To me! (Which brings me to the Converse in all the colors. It’s the one shoe that we agree on.)

 

 8 – The Ability to Not Drown From Being Near Water

This is otherwise known as swimming. I titled it like that because this is exactly how it feels before your child can swim. Near water? Drowning is imminent.

Especially with Crappy Baby, who was always drawn to water, being anywhere near it was basically the worst thing ever.

Now that they can swim and splash, I can actually enjoy myself. (Our new house has a pool. This was not intentional. Meaning, we didn’t want a pool, but it just happened to be here along with the house. After living in Los Angeles for 16 years where it actually makes sense to have a pool (and never having one) it feels rather silly to now have one in Wisconsin. But we do.)

9 – The Ability to Carry Their Own Shit

Seriously, this one is a game changer. While I still carry a huge bag (because knitting) it is no longer full of their stuff.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still wind up carrying their things all the time. They don’t want to carry their stuff. They have the ability to do so, they just don’t use their ability.

 

10 – The Ability to Be Embarrassed by Their Parents

This one is fairly new for us and can I just say that this is one of my favorite parenting stages yet?

I don’t actually embarrass him. That would be disrespectful and mean and crappy and he’d never trust me again.

I only tease him about embarrassing him, which is super fun.

(Of course, we haven’t even hit the stage where he is embarrassed by basically anything I do, or embarrassed to be seen in public with me, but I’m counting on skipping those.)

 

 

Runner Up – Ability to Wash Their Own Hair

I wrote a post about What It’s Like to Wash a Kid’s Hair so this one is a good one. It really should have been in the top ten but then it would be 11 and this list doesn’t go to 11.

 

What other underrated parenting milestones should we celebrate? 

 

 


Thank you SO MUCH for all your wonderful coloring book ideas on my last post! Many of them were incorporated last minute and it will be available in December. 

Also, the newsletter is growing by leaps and bounds and I still haven’t even written about it. It’s been fun getting feedback from many of you via email. It feels like a super secret club.

*Of course we didn’t burn the booster seat. It’s made of food. We ate it.

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted in crappy pictures, good stuff, learning, potty training, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

141 Responses to The Ten Most Underrated Parenting Milestones

  1. Elizabeth Allen says:

    The ability to take themselves to/from school and after school activities. No longer having to drag everyone out because one needs to be somewhere is great.

    • Amy Kane says:

      Drivers license is definitely the best. They can haul themselves around and the other kids too!

    • Pantrygirl says:

      This happens?! Holy crap, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

    • Willow Robson says:

      This was massive for us too. Our crappy boy now cycles to school on his own every day, and we look forward to our crappy baby doing the same in about 18 months.

  2. Liz says:

    I love this so much. The one I would add is the kids actually sleeping in instead of waking us up at 5 AM on the weekends. I think that one has saved my sanity.

  3. Gila says:

    Brushing their own teeth.
    When my oldest got old enough to babysit her siblings (omg life-changing it makes putting up with all her teen angst worth it)
    Arranging their own social lives
    Walking to and from school by themselves
    Taking the bus around the city
    Basically – anything that makes us obsolete

  4. Arlee says:

    Yes! We’re starting to get into these milestones, too! My son has started making his own breakfast! I might actually finish a cup of coffee while it’s hot!

    Other milestones for us – being able to take pills. Being able to blow their own nose. Being able to vomit in a bucket or toilet on their own. Ours all seem to focus on being sick. Huh.

  5. L says:

    The ability to entertain oneself while a parent is in the bathroom. I threw a party the day that happened. (Still wishing it happened a little more often–ability and inclination are very different here.)

    • Danielle says:

      Inclination vs Ability is the biggest thing for all of these. Mine are 14 & 10 the ability to do things on this list is there. The actual inclination only applies to like 3 of them. And the fact that they still seem to think that coming to talk to me while I’m in the shower or on the toilet is the biggest evidence of this. Like this happens at least once a week type of still.

  6. Kate says:

    For kids with siblings: The first moment they are playing with each other and not counting on you for entertainment.

    See also: The first time everyone is sitting around the table, just eating. As in, no one is feeding anyone else, no one is complaining and refusing to eat, no food is being thrown on the floor. Everyone is just. Eating.

    • Karina says:

      Just. Eating. Without high chairs or special request toddler blamd food. Just eating. This. Day. Shall. Come. ??

    • Nicki says:

      This was my first Thanksgiving where it was the norm. I said it was what I was thankful for 🙂

    • Anne says:

      Your post just made a light go on for me! I had forgotten that this is a thing. It’s been five years since it was a regular thing, but now that I remember that it’s possible, I strive to reach the day that everyone is. Just. Eating.

      I also long for the day that it doesn’t feel SELFISH to take a shower. I understand that some people bathe without an overwhelming sense of guilt. I aspire to that.

  7. Ruth Stein says:

    Stay home alone is pretty much the biggest. And it comes with add-ones: for an hour, for longer, in the evening, on a school night, etc. I’m still waiting to get to overnight.

  8. Amanda says:

    Ahhhh. This made me cry! As mother of now 12yo and 10yo boys, this really hit home. They were pretty much incompetent just a few short years ago.

  9. Lynann says:

    This is all wonderful and true and funny and just a little sad. The other day I was walking 6th grader back into school after an appointment and really wanted to hold her hand. She looked at me like I was insane when I said, “I don’t suppose you’d let me hold your hand?” “NO. Geez mom”.

    • Elizabeth says:

      Oh my goodness, yes. Your comment made me want to cry! I have a 6th grade girl also and I can picture that moment exactly – “I don’t suppose you’d let me hold your hand.” : ( It’s so bittersweet – relieved for the independence but sad the little years are over. My youngest is 10 months and I’m trying hard to soak up his babyhood because I know it won’t last.

    • Willow Robson says:

      My eleven year old still holds my hand, for now…

  10. Kerry says:

    I can’t believe throwing up in the toilet isn’t on here! That has changed my life!

    • amber says:

      That is a milestone we haven’t reached yet. Looking forward to that one!

    • Amanda says:

      Yes! This. Total game changer.

    • Vincent says:

      The toilet would be a happy event, but I’m happy if it’s just not on something carpeted or upholstered. Kitchen floor? Great! Bathtub? Even better! Just so I don’t have to get out the shampooer.

    • Miranda says:

      My oldest (10 at the time) puked all over the carpeted bedroom floor, multiple times in a night, never waking me. I found it in the morning, glared at him, told him “I’ll clean it up this time, but it is the last time I’ll do it for you. Next time, get yourself to the toilet!” And thankfully he has either made it to the toilet or puked in a bucket every time since then (which, also thankfully, hasn’t been that many times, he’s 11.5 now!)

    • Noelle says:

      I was happy when it was in the “Yucky Bucket” (old gallon ice cream bucket) instead of all over the sheets! At least I could dump the contents of the bucket and the rinse water into the toilet and flush. Instead of changing and washing bedding in the middle of the night.

      The Yucky Bucket still lives beside both my bed and my now 18 year old’s bed. Just in case. My Gramma taught me the wonders of the Yucky Bucket when I was a wee teeny one myself.

  11. Erika says:

    I love this post! I think Crappy Boy must be little older than my son – a lot of these are familiar to me, although we have not hit the bedtime one yet 🙁 I also have a teenage daughter, so I know all about the embarrassment issue – LOL. Mostly she is mortified by almost everything her little brother does. Teenagers are SUPER self-conscious. I try to tell her that nobody cares, but she doesn’t believe me.

  12. Kelly says:

    The ability to be left alone at home. Even if it’s just for 20 min. That is huge! It leads to: ability to have a key to the house and be alone for hours.

    Putting away their own clothes, not just throwing them in the bottom of the cliset, but really hanging them up and folding them in drawers.

  13. Hayley says:

    I still don’t plunge the toilet myself. And I’m 31. (What are husbands for?) If I ever do, I might have to post that milestone on social media. ;P

  14. Sandi says:

    Related to the bathroom- when they get a puking bugand take care of all that on their own. Getting to the bathroom, hitting the bowl, heading back to bed! I felt bad listening from the other room, but sweet mother of all that is holy, it was glorious to not be an active part of it!

    • J says:

      Yes. two milestones here:

      1) Ability to puke into the family puke bowl when it is nearby and not just vomit all over the bed/couch/floor/parent.

      2) Ability to actually get to the bathroom and toilet.

  15. Cassandra says:

    #2 – teaching us things is by far my favorite milestone right now. My son has lectured me on tensile strength (in relation to Spiderman) and chain reaction among other topics. My favorite is when he told me that pooping is like using a play dough extruder and provided appropriate sound effects and hand motions.

  16. Jessica H says:

    We have reached a few of these milestones this year, but I will say my fave goes along with #1- making his own lunch for school! Ah my mornings are so much better.

  17. Krissa says:

    My 8-year-old asks to read bedtime stories to his 2-year-old brother. So much so he has the stories memorized. I don’t know what that would fall under, but it’s the best thing ever.

  18. A says:

    The other day mine got up with the alarm, got dressed, and was halfway towards making his own lunch before I realized what was going on. It hasn’t happened again, but I’m going to keep my camera handy just in case.

  19. Felicia says:

    Ability to turn on Tv/dvd player without help so mommy can sleep in should be on here.

  20. Amy says:

    Also the ability to work the tv remote control all on your own!! Allowing mommy a few more minutes (or an hour) of sleep. Dont judge Im not a mor ing person. Lol!

  21. Lee says:

    No more sippy cups. Or rather, no more finding nasty, moldy, rotting sippy cups everywhere. Or fighting about the colors of said cups and lids.

  22. Debi says:

    Doing their own laundry.

  23. Catherine says:

    The ability to eat take-out in the car independently! It is a glorious moment when I can run through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A, hand the bags to my oldest and him dole out food to everyone. And then they all eat. Without my help. Without spills. Without my tears.

    **bonus points if all the wrappers and cartons make it back into the bag when empty

  24. Mindy says:

    Buckling their own seatbelt!

  25. Monica Moore says:

    As a mom of a teen,preteen, and a toddler… I liked celebrating these milestones. The down side is that apparently they forget about these as they get older. My teen is more needy than my toddler. I live for the day I can ask my older kiddos to be “free” babysitting.

  26. J says:

    OMG. The embarrassing one! So glad it is not just me. I had no idea how much fun it would be. I also don’t actually embarrass my kids in front of friends etc. But my 11 year old can get embarrassed by me while it is just the two of us in the car alone. Here is a good one for this time of year: Drive by a house with lots of holiday lights say “That house is LIT!” Watch child shake their head in pure dismay. Enjoy.

    • amber says:

      Yes! Car rides are much more fun now. He especially “loves” it when I sing and dance while driving.

      • Kara says:

        Took my kids to their first school disco last week. Showed them all the cool dance moves I could do while they were there if they wanted me to. (The sprinkler! The lawnmower! The dive! The swim! Big fish little fish cardboard box!)
        5yo thought I was hilarious. Master 7 was mortified. “No, Mum. Just no.”
        It is sooooo much fun!
        Looking forward to lots more as years go on.

  27. Robin says:

    As the mother of two boys who are really heavy sleepers, I am still (one is 11) looking forward to the day when a week has passed with no wet beds.

  28. Maureen says:

    The day the kids ALL knew how to access the water feature on the refrigerator without flooding the neighborhood felt like winning a marathon. I mean, WATER. They can SURVIVE without me now!!!!

  29. Misty says:

    Clipping their own nails! No longer having that moment when you realise your kids nails are five inch daggers of death that you have neglected to notice for, apperantly, at least a year…. Glorious! 😉

  30. Amanda says:

    I’ll add the ability to push themselves on the swings at the park. Or swing themselves. Game changer.

  31. Eleanor says:

    Related to the hair washing one but I love it now I can say “have a shower” to my 10yo and 7yo and they just don’t it without my input.
    Being able to puke in the toilet was also a great milestone.
    Being able to cover themselves up after kicking off the duvet instead of waking me up because they got cold, just hit this milestone with my 4yo. Still get woken up to find lost teddies in the dark though. That will be the next biggie for her!

    • Beky says:

      Yes! Covering back up in the middle of the night! Almost every night for weeks… She turns 4 in a week. It would be nice if she would poop in the potty too.

  32. Tash says:

    Making their parents a cup of tea or coffee and delivering it to them. That one made me supremely happy.
    Also cooking simple dinner for all the family. My eldest made pasta bolognese last week and it was fab (she’s 11). Even better was that she did it home alone, so dinner was ready when I walked through the door with her siblings. Yay!

    • Sara says:

      My daughter (10) makes me coffee, and it is the best. It sometimes tastes a little funny but still the best.

  33. Jo says:

    One we haven’t reached yet but I am really looking forward to is when my whole family can site in their own chairs at dinner and eat their own food without me needing to intervene at all, and we can actually enjoy a family meal together. That day will be awesome.

  34. Lynn says:

    The ability to put on their own shoes and jacket, and buckle themselves in the car.

  35. Mercedes says:

    The ability to do the dishes for me! Love it, second only to vacuuming.

  36. Hope Ell says:

    Packing his own lunch for school everyday. I absolutely love that I don’t have to do that anymore.

  37. Jenny says:

    When everybody can take medicine that’s not a children’s liquid. Can’t wait for that day!

  38. Lyz says:

    The toilet one is so true. Once my boys tried to unclog a toilet by flushing it repeatedly. So gross.

    Other than teaching them how to clean a toilet (to cut down on “I missed” – making them clean helps a lot there) that’s the last thing I’ve had to do.

    I will add the ability to recognize when they need rest. No more fights – they will go take a nap on their own if they need it.

  39. Moe says:

    The ability to help each other with homework.

    The ability to make simple meals (macaroni and cheese, fried rice) for dinner.

    The ability to fold their own clothes.

    But, most of all, their ability to demonstrate a sense of humor as absurd as mine and then share the laugh with me.

  40. Krisha says:

    I totally posted about it online with my son was able to not to drown near water.

  41. Jessica Yarger says:

    The ability to do the after dinner clean up and empty the dishwasher. The dishwasher part is my favorite! I’ll never have to do it again. 🙂

  42. Kim says:

    I am SO GLAD your kids don’t actually carry their own things. Because mine are about the same age and also have this ability. And they do not use it.

    • Miranda says:

      I laugh at my kids when they ask me to carry their stuff. Literally. “That’s so funny! You think my hands are free enough to carry your stuff!” I will let them lose their things instead of carry it for them.

      And yet, they still ask me to occasionally! Which gives me a good laugh!

      *I do let them put their stuff in my backpack, IF it fits, but I sometimes make them wear my backpack for me! I carry a backpack instead of a purse because I’m always lugging way too much stuff for one shoulder!

  43. Sarah says:

    Between this brilliant post and the comments section, you could have a new book on your hands! I loved all of this, but #4 gave me an actual LOL moment. I’m not there yet, but boy will we rejoice that day! Thanks so much for sharing these.

  44. jojo says:

    Telling left from right!! That moment when you can direct them to something or somewhere without actually getting up off the couch. (Of course sometimes they still can’t find it…) And practicing this will be helpful for later when you’re teaching them to drive.

    And an older kid milestone: staying home by themselves and making their own dinner. Hubby and I still get a thrill out of announcing (at the last minute) that we’ve decided to go out for a drink and/or a nice dinner. Bye kids!! 😀

    • jojo says:

      Oh yes, and the clipping their own nails! That was one of my most hated jobs! Now the only toenails I clip are my own!

  45. Jessica says:

    The ability to make it to the barf bucket <- HUGE milestone

  46. Jessica says:

    Oooh Oooh! The ability to set up the coffee pot and bring me a cup of coffee! They do this all the time and it is delightful!

  47. Ashley says:

    The ability to do real chores, like wash their own laundry or do the dishes or clean the toilet. Life changing.

  48. Brittany says:

    The ability to cook basic things! My fourth grader makes me eggs for breakfast some days!!

  49. Chrissy says:

    The ability to puke in a toilet! ?

  50. Katy says:

    Being able to push themselves on the swings. Now I can sit pleasantly on a bench and talk with mom friends (or scroll antisocially) any time we are at a playground!

  51. Is there EVER an ability to REALIZE THEY HAVE A FATHER, HE’S RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, AND THEY SHOULD ASK HIM THE SAME QUESTION INSTEAD OF HUNTING ME DOWN TO ASK AFOREMENTIONED REDICULOUS QUESTION?! I’m really looking forward to THAT.

    • Shelly says:

      Mine are 15 and 11. I too would like to know if this ever comes about.

    • Karen (Scotland) says:

      Yes! This. “Mum, when is Dad taking us ice-skating again?” ??? You left the couch where you were sitting with your dad to come and ask me that in the laundry room? Why?!

  52. Annie LaCourt says:

    The ability to find and apartment and sign a lease without your money or your signature. The ability to get from their apartment to your house via airplane and Uber without your help financial or otherwise. The ability to ask for a raise they deserve based on an evidence based argument they constructed without your help. The ability to proofread their own resume. The ability to end a bad relationship even if it makes them sad. Oh did you think these milestones stop coming at some point?

  53. Shannon says:

    The ability to peel their own orange.

    I hate peeling oranges. Hate. it.

  54. Connie says:

    When they’re still too little to be out of a carseat and into a booster seat, but they’re big enough to climb up into the carseat without being hoisted. That one was big for me.

  55. Connie says:

    Oh, and tying their own shoes!!!!

  56. Amanda Arvig says:

    The ability to cook dinner for the family (and clean up) while mom is in bed with the cold/flu/ick.

  57. MB says:

    Sigh… Someday!!! My oldest has just turned 5, and I have a 3 year old and one on the way. I’ve still got a lot of butt wiping, car seat using years ahead of me!

  58. Charlotte Dungan says:

    The ability to walk themselves into everything – school, dance class, returning books at the library. And the flip, the ability to wait in the car while I grab medicine at the pharmacy (NOT dragging sick kid through the aisles) or walk inside to pick up our pizzas.

  59. Brittany says:

    I didn’t know you are a knitter! Are you on Ravelry?

    • amber says:

      I am – as of last year or the year before? I’m a new knitter. I don’t share much of anything on Ravelry though, just use it to find patterns.

  60. Lynalice says:

    Lol love these. Of course I hope parents realize that the booster seat should stay until kids can pass the five step test. Can’t wait to reach that one! Another good one is the moment they gain the ability to clear out the dishwasher for you and put everything where it should go! That’s been a game changer in our house lol

  61. Katy says:

    Almost the same as some listed above but a major step in our house: ability to wake up in the night needing to pee, turning on hall light, walking to bathroom, peeing, turning light off, and then getting back in bed and going back to sleep with zero help.

  62. Suzy says:

    Going out to play with their friends. No. More. Playdates! Don’t get me wrong, I love my neighbors, but when I can just shoot them a group text to find my kids – priceless.

  63. Morgan says:

    Chores. Glorious chores. I don’t have to do all the things

  64. PAM HULSE says:

    I’m looking forward to my just-turned 8 year old granddaughter being able/want to comb her own very curly hair. Or at least let an adult do it on a daily basis.

  65. Andrea says:

    Blowing her own nose is an underappreciated milestone!!

  66. Erin Tran says:

    I celebrated (with a facebook post and spontaneous dancing) when my kiddo learned how to make coffee. I’m not sure it gets any better than that.

  67. Bronwyn David says:

    So true. Beautifully said. I’m almost there except for 9 (carrying stuff). Seriously!!

  68. Miranda says:

    Loving these comments!

    The ability to stay home alone, and to babysit siblings, was a huge game-changer for me. I can’t wait for him to be old enough to drive!

    And oh yes chores! My 2 oldest do most of the family dishes, the oldest does his own laundry and the next two do most of the family laundry. The kids do most of the tidying and are capable of many other chores, including keeping the livestock alive. Really looking forward to the day when they can do all their homeschool by themselves!

  69. Daniella says:

    The ability to LET THEIR PARENTS NAP. Without waking us every 3 seconds to ask us a stupid question or otherwise getting themselves in trouble. The first time this happened I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven.

    …And then they turn around and go, “When are you having a baby?” and I’m like “WHY DID I EVER THINK BABIES WERE A GOOD IDEA?”

  70. Zell says:

    I took a photo of my daughter’s first (and last) hickey and put it in her baby book. Hickeys are there to be shown off, right? I never did see another one. ; )

    (For those who think that is terrible and she must be scarred for life or in therapy, she’s a well-adjusted librarian getting married in June. It’s all good.)

  71. Emma says:

    My husband always said “once they can make me a cup of tea and bring it to me in bed without spilling, my parenting work is done”. We’re nearly there…

  72. Ruth Barker says:

    Even more so when you have a child with special needs. Our major minestrone is that daughter age 9 has finally worked out how to ask for the toilet before rather than after doing a poo. I have dealt with more ooo accidents than you can imagine! And she’s quite good at putting things away but doesn’t understand the difference between clean and dirty, so we keep finding used plate in the cupboard, and soiled clothes (including night time nappy in the drawer!

  73. Sanj says:

    Ahhh, milestones. So great, but they (and time) speed up and that morphing baby/toddler/child/preteen/teen suddenly becomes an independent adult who moves away to follow beckoning adventures. Ohhh. Too far. Rewind? Sigh.

  74. I am so with you on the same shoe size thing! It is life altering. I chose pretty much all of his footwear this past year based on whether or not I would enjoy wearing it once he grew again. I have an awesome pair of hiking boots and some great sneakers now 🙂

    My favourite milestone – being old enough to stay home alone for an hour or two while I get groceries or have coffee with a friend. It’s so freeing!

  75. Cheryl Hennessy says:

    The ability to pick up things stashed on the stairs (targeted for the next trip up those stairs) and deliver them up to a bedroom without being asked (never did get the ex-husband to accomplish this one; he became quite adept at just stepping over stuff with the comment “Sorry, I didn’t even see it!”)

  76. Sarah says:

    PUTTING THEIR OWN SHOES ON. PUTTING THEIR OWN SHOES ON. PUTTING. THEIR. OWN. SHOES. ON.

  77. Sabina says:

    Dreaming about the day my son will go to sleep without a battle.

  78. Jill Morgan says:

    Ages? These milestones are amazing! But what are the ages that they are happening? Especially that sandwich and lunch making one. And the bedtime. And not drowning. And just, all of them. I feel like we are awfully close to some of these at age 7, but still so far away.

  79. Mandy says:

    My 10-year-old daughter was bound and determined to earn her Girl Scout Independence badge. This resulted in much awesomeness, but for real guys, SHE CAN GO INTO THE GROCERY STORE WITH A LIST AND MONEY AND EMERGE WITH THE THINGS ON THE LIST!!!!! *swoons*

  80. Jenn says:

    The ability to run TO the bathroom and puke IN the toilet consistently!!!!!!!

  81. Thumbs in mittens, you forgot thumbs in mittens and put on snow pants and manage zippers!

  82. Poppy says:

    We live in Brooklyn, so it is amazing that my kid can ride public transportation BY HIMSELF to get to and from school. He also picks up little brother from after school a couple days a week. It’s only been a couple months, and it still wows me.

  83. Delora says:

    When the oldest child is old enough to babysit the younger child(ren), and you can finally have date nights without paying an additional $60 just to be able to leave the house.

  84. Andrea says:

    The ability to cut their own nails!
    I am down to just one I need to hunt down, hold down and trim!

  85. Erica says:

    1. Making their own school lunch
    2. Being independent enough for you to have a weekend nap and then bring you coffee and a cookie when you wake up.
    3. Send them to the grocery store to do a weekly shop with the car and they get it right.
    4. The first time their dad and I went away overnight without getting a baby sitter.
    5. The feeing that they will be okay independent adults.

  86. Tammy says:

    A milestone that made me feel yell “FREEDOM” a la William Wallace was when the oldest was responsible enough to babysit the youngest and I could go to the grocery store BY MYSELF!

  87. MJ says:

    About the ability to wash their own hair. I dont mind much if boys dont do it properly. But i have girls. And then, washing hair a whole other level of bath. My older daughter doesnt wash her hair everyday, it’s too much. My husband doesnt understand why not. He has never ever had any hair longer than half an inch. So I waive her hair washing most of the days. My little girl is 2 so I wash her hair daily (mostly to relax her and to try to keep her from getting sick). By age 5 some girls are able to wash and groom their hair (it depends a lot on what kind of hair they have). Which is a total new underrated milestone.

  88. MJ says:

    another one is the ability to use a knife. to spread butter, to help get the food on the fork, to cut soft things like an omelet.

  89. Christine says:

    Buckling themselves and helping buckle the smaller ones was a pretty big deal for me! Such a time saver.

  90. Rose says:

    I know this post was weeks ago (and I’m just reading it now *face palm*). But I wanted to add, the day they discover hanging around Mommy while she cleans / does stuff necessary to their survival isn’t nearly as fun as playing by themselves for a minute. We haven’t gotten there yet, but I am yearning for the day.