Miss Independent

I find this comes with it's ups and downs. Delaney has always had an independent streak since the first time she crawled across the floor to take her brothers their bottles. Yes, it started very early. She's always been the one that I could give a job and know the task would be completed to the best of her ability. Recently, I decided it was time to split bath time. I told Delaney she would be showering in the guest/hall bathroom. She hesitated and then realized this was something special. We moved her own shampoo and conditioner into the bathroom and it was all she could think of the rest of the day. She couldn't wait to shower and bragged to her brothers about her new bathroom. (As if they cared, they will probably be happy for mommy to bathe them until they are old men!) At one point, she said, "the only thing that would be better would be if the bathroom was in my room!" If she only knew how much she will really mean those words one day.

It's been nice to have her shower on her own. She's also decided she's quite old enough to fix her own hair. Blow drying is helpful but she is locked into one style and the only one style she knows, is a low pony tail. Of course she doesn't get her hair all that smooth on top. I've been really trying to let it go most of the time; after all, it is summer! Occasionally, when we have something special planned or just church, I would like her to branch out to another style or at least have it look a little more in tact, I have to really persuade her to let me fix it.
Delaney spends most of her play time, writing and drawing. She's now authoring books with paragraphs, she's written down at least 12 pages of choreography to dances she has made up and is currently working on several fashion magazines. But, the other day, she actually got out her old baby doll, Abby. Since this occasion was somewhat rare, I decided I should snap a picture. She loves taking care of small kids. Wherever we go, she always gravitates towards the younger kids and is a loving mother hen. Of course, we are very proud of her independence and sense of responsibility even if at times, it creates a little parent/child conflict.