Some start early

So the little boy got out of the car and ran away. We were shouting to him to come back, but of course he chose not to hear. Until we said ok, let's leave. Let's go home. So we started to walk away from him, which is when he got anxious and decided it'd be a good idea to follow. My thoughts were: gosh, don't they start early? He is only 3, and thinks like a man already. Whenever you want to leave a man, they come after you. If you are after them first, they remain aloof and distant. It must be in the genes...