"I can do it!"

I am beginning to really dread those words when they come out of my almost-four-year-old. As a mother, I am certainly very proud of how independent Jacob is becoming. I'm proud that he uses the potty and never has an accident, I'm proud that he can dress himself, clean up his own messes (when he chooses, unfortunately that's the one time he says "I can't do it!"), and has mastered the mouse and keyboard so he can endlessly play at NickJR.com. Really, I'm very proud of my son. He's amazing, he learns something new every day, and he has limitless energy.

But as a human being prone to great impatience, hearing those four little words- I can do it!- in a tone that says "back off Mommy, if you try to button these pants, I'm taking out your eye!" makes me cringe on more occasions than not. The phrase usually comes as we're trying to get out the door for an appointment for which we're already late because Jake had to make sure the Wonder Pets really did save the day, or Map gave proper directions for Dora to reach her destination, or those meddling kids and their dog actually could solve the mystery. So we're already late, and my darling boy is trying to button the most impossible pair of pants, because Mommy didn't make it to the laundry mat (our washer is broken) and those are the only clean pair left. The mere suggestion that sometimes it is okay to ask for help sends him into a tantrum.

I stand there watching, waiting, alternating between thinking "I am throwing out every damn pair of pants that has buttons," "Please kiddo, please just ask Mommy for help," and "gee, I'm so proud of my little boy!' Seconds tick by, Jacob likes us to count to see how long it takes to put on his clothes. Each article starts back at zero. Eight seconds for undies, 15 for socks, twenty seconds for a shirt because he has to turn it round and round to make sure the tag is in the back. Then the pants. I stop counting at around fifty.

So intent on doing things himself is my son that he talks about it in his sleep. He woke up screaming last night. As I got him calmed down, he was crying over and over "I can do it, I want to do it, I can do it!" I asked him "What baby? What can you do?" His response- "Be Spongebob." Uh, alright kiddo, that's one thing Mama can't help you with, so go for it.