I can do it myself, Mom!

What happened? My firstborn "baby" is blossoming into a boy...a person who thinks, acts, and talks without much regard to me. I used to view him as an extension of myself, but no more! He is making sure that I am getting it, and I am...loud and clear! He had a hard day at school, and decided to take it out on me in front of everyone at Wal-Mart...with clenched fists and angry tears streaming down his face he showed me defiance that he felt over the injustice of not getting chips with his slushy. After marching him straight back to the car to get an attitude adjustment Ethan not only locked me out of the car, but he also buckled his own seat belt...something we have been working on for a while that he seemed to have difficulty mastering. Anger can push us to do things we thought we couldn't do...?
Fast forward to today when he was happy and in love with me again. As I opened his door to help him with the seat belt, he sweetly said, I can do it myself, Mom! And he did. And I am learning that he can. He can express himself, interact with many people, play, be creative, and the list goes on. He just needs some guidance sometimes. Just like his Mommy!