Forget first steps and driver's licences. These “minorstones” (rather than milestones) are the smaller parenting victories that deserve a little fanfare, too.

We spend a lot of time watching for the big milestones, especially when our kids are little. But parenting is also full of tiny shifts—now being called “minorstones”—that suddenly make life easier, funnier or just a little more interesting. They may never make it into the baby book or find their way to social media, but they're absolutely worth noticing.

Here are 35 “minorstones” to celebrate as the years tick by.

The First Year

  • Baby naps somewhere other than on you
  • You get through a diaper change without using half a pack of wipes
  • Baby can sit happily on the floor while you do something else (like shower!)
  • You leave the house without packing for a three-week expedition
  • Baby sleeps through the night—or at least long enough that you don't feel like a zombie the next day

Ages 1–3

  • Your toddler can climb into their own car seat
  • They can tell you what they want instead of crying and making you guess
  • They make it through a restaurant meal without anyone having to take them outside
  • They start playing independently for more than three minutes
  • They reliably sleep to a time that is decidedly morning and not borderline still nighttime

Ages 4–6

  • They can get themselves dressed from start to finish
  • They can buckle their own seatbelt
  • They go to a birthday party without needing you to stay
  • They can grab themselves a snack
  • They can shower or bathe with only minor assistance

Ages 7–10

  • They can make themselves a basic breakfast
  • They remember something they need for school without being reminded
  • They can entertain themselves for an entire afternoon
  • They go to a friend's house without you arranging every detail (yes, you'll still confirm with parents)
  • They can pack their own bag for an overnight (yes, you'll still have to double-check it)

Ages 11–13

  • They can stay home alone for a little while
  • They make plans with friends and then tell you about them
  • They can cook an actual meal
  • They start managing their own homework without daily reminders
  • They voluntarily tell you something about their day

Ages 14–15

  • They make their own appointment or ask a question for themselves
  • They get themselves somewhere without needing a ride from you
  • They start earning their own money
  • They can solve a friendship problem without asking you to intervene
  • They can make dinner for the family

Ages 16–18

  • They drive themselves somewhere for the first time
  • They make a complicated plan and handle the logistics themselves
  • They call to sort out their own appointment, reservation or problem
  • They buy you something with money they earned themselves
  • They ask for your advice—and actually want to hear the answer