Documenting Delight: day one hundred and thirty {growing independence}

Things have been changing around here. My little girl who I could not leave, who would collapse to the ground in tears when I would announce that I was popping down to the shops and her Daddy would be looking after her, has had a turn around. In the past month she has happily parted from me, sometimes (*gasps*) without a sideways glace and barely a muttered “Bye, mum”.

For the past two and a half years Harper has been my near constant companion. She is far from a shy child and when in the presence of other children or adults she would happily play and chat but I needed to be there, not next to but within view. Most of the time I would marvel at the love she gave to me, the security she found in me, but then there were times where I would feel trapped and just plain longed to leave her for a coffee date without feeling like I had traumatised her.

A common myth regarding Attachment Parenting is that it creates clingy, dependent children. Yes, I have kept Harper close in her early years and she has needed this closeness but her sudden switch from dependence to independence has highlighted that Attachment Parenting can in fact help our children become secure, independent individuals when allowed to do so in their own time.

Today I left Harper with my lovely friend Kate so I could have a child free morning. Kate needed to remind Harper that she may like to give me a goodbye cuddle before they departed. She left at ease. No screaming, no “Muuuuuuuuuuuma!”. Wow.

So there I was with three hours to myself. It’s quite incredible what you can achieve without two toddlers in tow isn’t it? A trip to ALDI, parcels to the post office, phone calls made, a whole coffee sipped whilst sitting down, a chapter  read, emails sent and a washing load in the machine. I felt so productive but also it was incredibly relaxing.

{a things to do list, take away coffee, a book and just MYSELF}

When I picked Harper up I could hear loud noises coming from Kate’s house. Oh no, she is crying! Not the case at all. More like laughing (possibly at “funny baby Eli”). Phew! She had a great morning with Kate, completely at ease with someone else taking care of her. Wow again.

And just to add a little icing to a brilliant morning, I received a gift from Kate. It’s not my birthday, just an unexpected and thoroughly thoughtful gift from a wonderful friend. I now have a copy of Kelle Hampton’s memoir Bloom. Kate and I have been following her blog for quite some time, and I am touched that Kate purchased a copy especially for me. Kate started her copy during her recent Mama’s 24hr retreat and now I can begin mine. 

My baby is growing and changing, a good book awaits me and a friend made my day. A blessed morning it was.