Everyone likes to feel independent (to a greater or lesser degree), but what independence looks like changes as you go along. When you are 6 months old, being independent means rolling over, and trying to crawl (please let that be “trying to crawl unsuccessfully” for just a little longer…), or getting to hold the spoon to feed yourself sweet potatoes; or even discovering all by yourself that you have a top of your head you can pat. What delight.

As a parent to small children, independence mean...