According the government, today was Family Day. Sure. Okay. I'll agree to that if it means a long weekend in February. Thank goodness we only have to do it once a year.According to my daughter, it should have been ALL HAIL QUEEN GIGI Day but how that distinguishes itself from any other day is beyond me.
I know I've mentioned it before, but sometimes I'm shocked at the outbursts that come with the age of Three. Many of you know how it is. For me, it's like one minute my sweet considerate daughter is playing and singing and pretty much evoking visions of cartoon birds flitting about her head, and then the next minute Three is in possession and the child is screaming a la shrew - shattering Disney and bringing on Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist. Small woodland creatures are fleeing and fearing for their lives, I quickly inventory all dangers and potential breakages of any kind, and anger that roars like no other I have seen from such a small vessal, bursts forth with abandon. And I exaggerate only slightly. Woodland creatures aren't always present when Three rears with tears and anger.
Hey, I always loved that named Regan. In fact, when I was a teen I think Regan was on my top ten girl's name list. Anyone else have one, or fifty of those lists? I was a list junkie - seriously, I made lists about everything. My favourite bands, songs, albums, videos, boys, food, countries to live in, cities to visit, boys, colours, designers, models, boys, you name it, I listed it. But listing baby names, that was a super cool one - all the girls I hung with were always trying to out-do each other for gothy weirdness. I mostly dug eccentric English names, liberally sprinkled with nicknames like Pippa and Minty. It was like old school New England mated with Enid Blyton characters. I would give good money to find those old notebooks of mine, I know they are packed away somewhere.
Holy crow, I just got off topic. Back to contemplating an exorcism.
Anyhow, that devilish Three accompanied our family on a daytime bike/walk today and had a throwdown with the bike en route to the park "STOP DOING THIS BIKE - I TOLD YOU TO RIDE", at us when we mentioned how Gigi was getting too big for her bike and would need a new one by the summer "NO, I DON'T WANT TO GROW UP!", and Three pretty much yelled at anything or anyone else who had the nerve to get in her way.
When we arrived at the park, a family was already there playing and Three demanded that Dad go and tell them to get out of her park. She was dead serious, plus wake-the-dead loud about it, but we held our ground and didn't comply with the request. No siree, I'll take a tantrum over getting strange looks for handing out eviction notices on public land.
But just as quickly as that crazy tantrumesque outburst occurred, we suddenly found ourselves involved in the most calm of exchanges followed by an invitation to play. Ack. For a split second in my head, I compared these seismic shifts to the bright lights in Lost, but quickly dismissed it because in our case, both time AND location remained the same, only the personalities had shifted. Plus, no nosebleeds (phew).
Now that I've annoyed everyone who doesn't watch Lost...
Are many three year olds like this? I know I'm not alone on this insane train of Three, I've seen others out there. But you know, just when you think you know Three, it throws you a curve ball - am I right, or what? *rolls eyes / breathing deeply*
Okay, seismic shift in topic... well kinda, still talking about small things as in: must find grace in small things:
- My daughter is naming all her dolls and characters great names like "Salad", "Margarine", "Crackers", and my all time favourite "Dr. Penderdragon" - she made that up on her own as far as I know.
- Good chocolate
- Easy, no prep, and yummy crock pot recipe (beef curry)
- A peaceful family meal out with no surprises
- Tech support that goes above & beyond to make your day easier - yes, it really happened to me
21 comments:
There's a Thomas the Train set in the kid's department of the B&N where I'm saddled three days a week, and three days a week, I see battles that border on Biggie & Tupac style shoot-outs among the toddlers who swarm to table....and three days a week, I want to set that thing ablaze. Preschoolers are hardcore.
Right now, my grace in small things involve my kids going to bed in 2 minutes. Praise be.
My Three tells 7 year-old playmates of her sister, "Look, I don't want to hear anymore of that whining." Completely legit, but tough to take from whence it came. Also, I have recently been told when sharing aforementioned story, "Do not talk about me, even if it's good. I don't want to hear it." Against almost everything I've ever believed in, I'm researching private schools so she can start K at 4. At our last conference, preschool teacher told us (with Three's signature dismissive wave of the hand), "G is so over us. You have to find her some Ivy Leaguers to hang with." But in the middle of the night last night, whose little hand tapped me on the butt? And who cuddled up next to me making 'mmm, mmmm" noises? Well, I can't mention the name or share the story without getting a talkin' to from knee level... so you'll have to just imagine.
I still like Pippa. I was influenced by Enid Blyton too. And Frances Hodgson Burnett.
*snork*
Imagining feisty G named 'Minty' made me sprinkle the monitor with OJ.
Hang on. Four's bumpy too. (Although the language is better. Mostly.)
Ah, Three's need to negate everything. I've even heard the phrase, "NO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE ME HAPPY!" We don't seem to switch into calm mode as quickly as Gigi though. It always takes bribery or something.
Seriously... those lists + the ability to look back w/sarcasm = comedy gold. Start diggin'.
Three will be leaving these premises on Sunday, I'm a little sad to see it go. Four seems so BIG, I've almost forgotten every rotten thing Three has ever done.
Yes, Three is very turbulent. Four is too, but not quite as bad, and you can reason with Four a little more. I'm looking forward to Five. Hopefully Five will be less grumpy. (It was for my daughter.)
I celebrated Family Day by serving food to OTHER families at the restaurant. A playdate in the park sounds much nicer. :)
three. i fucking hate three. and i hated it at the movies on sunday and at the zoo yesterday. four couldn't come soon enough, i say!
The only thing that scares me more than three, is knowing that everybody calls the next stage, the f*&#ing fours.
Today I hate Three. Three can SUCK MY ASS today.
Hon, your threes sound EXACTLY like my 2 1/2s... meep. I'm in trouble if this gets worse.
now i totally, totally want to be called Salad. Like, forever.
You have read my blog right? I f*cking hate three. Three's a bitch.
Okay sometimes Three is pretty damn cute, but mostly it's a bitch.
Dude, you do not have to tell me about the crazy of three. Although that Get Those People Out of MY Park is a good one. A really good one. I'm still laughing.
yeah...it doesn't get any better...it just gets harder to stay ahead of them.
11 is just about to kill ME! This kid isn't going to make it to puberty, let alone through it. Penis-brain is driving me insane.
I don't know who came up with the "terrible twos" because they are a pleasure, truly. Three and four are much more difficult. I guess it would be called "exerting independence", but what it really is is "trying to throw her weight around to see if you'll buckle". Five gets easier and more self sufficient but new challenges await as well. Keep up the good work and I can't wait for the day you find those lists!
Kellie
I got just got yelled at by my 3 year old because I put ground flaxseeds and walnuts in her applesauce (THEY WERE GROUND). Okay, I deserved it.
On a related note..., all I remember is that Tammy and Julie were on my girl's names list when I was a kid.
My 3 is an absolute tyrant. Who is completely convinced the world revolves around him. Is also changes moods like the wind. When my oldest was this age I had an infant in my arms. I thank God every day that I don't have an infant and this crazy child to deal with. But I love him to death, you know that right...
My friend named her child Philippa - Pippa for short.
And yes, three is like a psychotic lion who keeps forgetting its meds. Sorry. but it will end.
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