Tag Archive for 'it’s hard being almost-three'

Almost Three!

It’s October 30th…and do you know what that means??  Claire turns THREE IN ONE MONTH!!

Click to enlarge:  35-months old, and she’s already a blogger!

Click to enlarge: 35-months old, and she’s already a blogger!

Claire said, “Momma!  Take a picture of me typing my blog!”  I asked her what she was writing about, and she said, “You!”  And then she started laughing maniacally.  If that doesn’t sum up what it’s like to be Almost Three, I don’t know what does!  ;)

It seems like just a few months ago I was writing about her turning Almost Two.  It really is amazing how fast the time flies!

You know what?  Two hasn’t really been that terrible.  Yes, we’ve had our challenges, but we’ve had more fun than not, more laughter than tears, and more crazy runnings-around than temper tantrums.

In fact, the hardest thing about dealing with Two is not laughing when you’re supposed to have a dead-serious straight face.  Who knew disciplining a child would be so comical!?

And laughing hysterically at someone in distress is not only rude, but doesn’t quite bring the proper solemnity to the situation.

:)

She teaches me something new every day, and I love that.

So Three is almost here…and I think I’ve seen her peeking her ornery little head out from behind a corner every now and then.

And from these tiny glimpses of Three, I can tell I have my work cut out for me.  I’m going to be doing a lot of deep breathing, giving myself good wrinkles, and counting.  Or maybe I’ll do the alphabet.  You know?  I’ve always wanted to be able to rattle off the alphabet backwards…maybe I’ll practice that.  I should be really good at it by the time Four gets here.

We have one month left before we officially enter Year Three.  I have a feeling that this year will be a delicate balance of continuing to encourage the independence she already has and managing the stubbornness that is so deeply ingrained.  In fact, the line between those two is so blurry that I sometimes forget which is which.

And, yes…yes…if we’re being completely honest, she totally takes after me.  I’m very independent and stubborn.  (Not to mention bossy and a know-it-all…)  But, I also enjoy being creative and I love solving problems, so hopefully our strengths and weaknesses can play off of each other.

I have a feeling that Year Three will be just as much fun as Year Two.

Lipstisk

The name of the actual indiscretion isn’t important.  She’s done it on purpose, and now she suffers the consequences.  She is promptly whisked to the time-out corner against her will, the minutes matching her age punched into the microwave timer.

I take a deep breath.
I unclench.

Consistency is the key, and we’re both nothing if not consistent.

I remind her that there is no talking in the time-out corner.
We can talk when the timer goes off.
We will talk when the timer goes off.

The microwave beeps, and I grant her release from the corner.

She comes to stand in front of me, her eyes brimming with tears.  I kneel down to her level and look into her eyes.  I wipe her tears, and she says she’s sorry.  She says she won’t do it again.  We embrace as she gives me a hug and a kiss.

I ask her to explain why she was in time-out, and she does.  I explain to her why it’s important to not do what she’d done to land herself there.

I think I’m really getting through to her.  I hope I’m really getting through to her.  Discipline is a process.  Is the message being absorbed?  Will she take this to heart?

I take her face in my hands and look into her eyes again.  I ask her if she understands me and understands what just happened.  I search her face, hoping to see any evidence that she’s taking this seriously.  I’m waiting for her answer.

She looks at me, gently touches my mouth, and says, “Momma?”

“Yes, Claire?”

“What color is your lipstisk?”