One small toast, one giant leap

Dear Jon:

On Saturday, you buttered your own toast. Just like that. Three months shy of the ripe old age of three you decided that you are capable of buttering your own toast. You put the tub of butter and the plate with a piece of cinnamon raising toast on the floor, took out a butter knife and spread the blob of butter on the toast. Then you offered to do the same for my and daddy’s toastsI think buttering your own toast opened up a door to so many other things you could do “all by myself.” Later that day, you insisted on washing your own grapes before eating them, washing a plum and cutting it, and then stirring my white bean and kielbasa soup on the stove.

I read in books about toddlers/two-year-olds going through a “me-do-it” stage. This stage is always described as something that annoys parents—because the “me-do-it” child takes so long to do anything. You have never gone through that stage. I like this one SO much better—you delight in your abilities, and I delight in your helpfulness.

Love you,
Mom