Starting several months ago, every time I achieved a rather difficult toddler task I was asked to do ... my little guy would begin clapping and say, “Mommy tried, Mommy did it.” Of course, this is the kind of affirmation that he receives and all children need in order to grow into confident human beings. But it ends up that it is also the affirmation that I — and all of us parents — needed this year, as well.