7 Kid Milestones Rarely Mentioned

All the parenting books and magazines talk about the kid milestones of rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking , and talking. But I hardly ever hear about these 7 milestones that are really quite life-changing from the mom perspective:

1. They can be in a forward facing carseat
When: 1 year old and 20 lbs
Why it's golden: much easier snack or toy hand-offs, and for long car trips the baby can now face the DVD movie his older sibs are watching

2. They stop putting everything in their mouths
When: depends on the kid and teething, usually between 12 and 24 months
Why it's golden: a little less worry about all the small pieces to older sibling's toys lying around and all the germs swapped during playdates

3. They can buckle themselves into their car booster seat
When: around 4 years old
Why it's golden: one less kid to buckle and unbuckle

4. They can buckle their younger siblings into their car seats
When: 5 or 6 years old
Why it's golden: less kids to buckle and unbuckle

5. They can shower themselves
When: 5 years old
Why it's golden: less labor intensive bedtime routine

6. They can get the keys from you and unlock the back door
When: 6 years old
Why it's golden: No more fumbling to unlock the door while juggling bags, cups, and a toddler

7. They use a napkin instead of wiping their mouths on their shirts
When: not sure, my 6 year old is still not there
Why it's golden: less scrubbing of clothes with the stain stick and a toothbrush!

**Please note: The age estimations on these milestones are not at all scientific, unless you call my observation of my own kids and some friends' kids scientific, so please don't quote my statistics to your pediatrician!

You know what I really love about these milestones? They are not likely to make you feel all weepy about your babies growing up too quickly. I mean who ever looks back and says, "Remember when the kids used to use their shirts for napkins? I really miss that!"

And seriously, you people with kids in college or beyond, don't comment and tell me you miss that! Your sweet, cuddly non-crawling, non-walking, non-talking babies? Yes, absolutely you miss all that! But the shirt napkin? No way!

Find more Friday Funnies at Homesteader's Heart, Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life, Hooked on Fridays at Hooked on Houses, 7 Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary.