When your little ones are very young, you're used to being everything that they need. They not only rely on you, but you're always the one they turn to whenever something happens. It's a lot of work, but there isn't a parent alive who would say they want things any other way. That's what makes it so hard when your kids start pulling away and wanting a little more independence. A lot of parents imagine that this starts at around puberty, but it actually starts to happen quite a bit sooner than that. Even as a pre-teen, your child is going to end up going through more changes than you expect. But remember that. However jarring and surprising a lot of these changes might be for you, that's going to go double for them. It's important not to overreact when your kids start showing signs of wanting a little more distance, the last thing you want it to smother them and end up pushing them even further away. The key is to help them feel confident to strike out on their own while always making sure that they know that you're always going to be there for them. Sometimes, that can be easier said than done, however. To help make things a little easier, here are some tips on how to handle a few of the tricky milestones that your child might hit as they get a little bit older.
Sleepovers
Image from flickr