Mr. Independence

The Boy is getting assertive. Not bossy, he has always been bossy (that's why I always fought ABA therapists that told me it wasn't "functional" to teach him 'please' and 'thank you' -- damn right those words are functional, especially around my house, and it takes the edge off his bossiness sometimes) but now he is speaking up for himself in new ways.

While we were out for lunch the other day I did what I always did. I asked him, "Do you want a muffin and yogurt or do you want macaroni and cheese?" Just perfunctory, really, he always wants the same thing, a muffin and yogurt. "MACARONI!" he said and then dove for the kids' picture menu and pointed and said, "and MASHED POTATOES!" Wow, that took me a minute. I know he loves those foods but macaroni and cheese are usually suppertime requests and it was just noon. "Okay," I told the waitress, "he'd like macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, and some apple juice." The Boy spoke up again and said, "ORANGE JUICE!" I glanced at him for a second, kind of in shock, and he said, "Have orange juice, please Mom?"

My husband and I looked at each other and smiled, because this was the first time it seemed like he could say, "I can order for myself, Mom, I'm seven years old now." Other than his great height and forever shrinking pant length, this was solid proof to me that the little guy is indeed growing up. Makes me proud and a bit wistful at the same time.