I Can Do It Myself

Every parent dreams about and dreads the “I can do it myself” age. It’s a stage that lasts – forever!

Do you have a third grader who wants to navigate the streets to school on her own? How about a newly licensed driver who wants to drive everywhere, even to do household errands? I bet you’ve looked forward to helping your college freshman set up his dorm room, only to be shooed out the door. Our grown children are adults in every positive connotation of that word. Yet, I can’t help myself from offering opinions which I know perfectly well they don’t need.

This “do it myself” stage is wonderful, if frustrating and a bit frightening. Our three-year-old granddaughter recently insisted on wrangling her shiny, gold backpack through various airports. It turns out that the pack outweighed her determination. After fighting off her parents’ help, she put it on to deplane. The heavy backpack and the slight rise of the jet way combined to flip her on to her back, leggings spinning in the air. Three times she righted herself and attempted to make it into the terminal. Three times she went down for the count, backing up all the other deplaning passengers behind her. Finally, her father just picked up the backpack (with her attached) and carried them out of the way. Other passengers were happy and she didn’t have  to relinquish her hold on the backpack treasure.

I’m a senior citizen and I feel just as strongly as my granddaughter about accepting help. But, we all need help sometimes. For kids and grandparents alike, ”I can do it myself” needs to be tempered with a lesson in graciousness for those who always have our backs. Thank you in advance to everyone who offers assistance.