My Independent Boy

My son Michael is exerting his independence more and more these days. He wants to do everything by himself, he always says "I do it, I do it mommy." He wants to get his own water from the water dispenser and puts the glass or cup back on top of the counter which is way above his head he needs to stand on his tippy toes. I used to always watch him drink from a glass or cup because he always pour the left over water on the floor when he's done but recently he hasn't done that. Also I let him drink from a glass so he would know the feel and to teach him how to be careful not to drop it or it will break into pieces. I told him to give the glass back to mommy when he's done. But of course he doens't know what 'break into pieces' means so I had this crazy wish for a glass to break one of these days ;-) so he will know what I was talking about. One time when he was trying to put the glass back on the counter, it slipped, fell and broke into pieces, exactly what I wished for. And he got very frightened, cried and ran away. He was so frightened I might scold him. Then I asked him to come to me and showed him the broken glass and then explained to him what happened. Well I'm not saying that accidents like this will not happen again, it may, but at least now he is learning the consequence of not listening to mommy.