There's a monster in my...

Sometimes we have kids that are really dependent on us, their parents. And others that are more on the independent side. I have both and I'm going to talk about the independent one. They seem to have more to write about.

Eli is as independent as they come. He wants to do everything himself and has been known to ask for help when needed, but not usually. He knows he can do it and won't stop till he does. (That would probably be why he always wins the battle with Jared and I every night in which bed he will be sleeping. Mine!) Now if we even attempt to put him in his own, he gives us a look saying, "You really want to play that game!?" We have gotten to the point that we'll try every now and then just cause he is so funny when he tries to sneak in. I guess you could call it our nightly comedy routine. We always go to bed laughing. On such nights, he will jump out of bed as soon as we close his door. 10 sec later you hear him shutting his door. By this time we are in bed and watching what he'll do. (only thing missing is the popcorn) We keep the door opened just a sliver and he'll stand their and stick his fingers in and wiggle them around. If their is no response, his toes come in next. No response is always good, so he continues to stick his face in the crack. We'll then say, "Eli, go to bed." And all body parts quickly disapear. About 30 seconds of standing in the hall way he tries his strategy one more time. But is sent back to bed once again. This time, he tried a different approach. The Bold Approach. Find something laying in the hall open the door wide open and say, "Here mom!" and bring it to me cause Ijust might need it. Impressive attempt but mom does not need a empty jug of milk. (Don't ask me why it was in the hall, it just was.) Mission failed and he is sent to bed, yet again. 30 seconds later, here come the fingers, toes, and face. I throw a burp cloth at the door which lands at his feet and he backs away, but then a little arm stretches in towards the bottom of the door, picks up the cloth, opens the door and throws it back at me. Shutting the door afterwards and fingers, toes, and face resume the previous position. This could go on for as long as we'd like but we are tired and give in and say, "Come here Eli". At which point, he opens the door with a huge smile and says, "Hi mom, I did it" while climbing into my bed with the authority of a conquering general of rome. Then looking at dad and saying, "Milk?" At which point he proceeds to drink all of Jared's milk. It's hard work getting what you want.