Dear Owner of a Threenager
Hi. How are you? That’s probably a dumb question. Maybe I should ask something more appropriate like “still have all your hair?” or “have you started drinking today yet?” You may be staring at your phone or computer to just numb your mind because ZOMG 3!!!!!
So you have a threenager. I feeeel you….oh Lord how I feel you. I wrote this last year. It was a rough phase. I was getting the hang of the mom-of-2 thing and then this creature replaced my son. I have NEVER seen tantrums like those at 3. Well maybe once…in the movie Constantine but they drove that sucker out with a mirror.
They DRAIN you. Mentally. Physically. But I have good news! Not to sound cliche but it gets better. 4? I love me some 4 so far. Yeah, he can still rock an attitude like a preteen but he isn’t just melting down. He may stamp him foot. He may cross his arms and kick off his shoes but he turns around and says “I’m sorry mommy” ” I just love you”. And the funny things he comes up with, oh they are fantastic.
He is FUN to be around, y’all. This is the parenting I have been waiting for. This summer, I took a few Fridays off just to hang out with him…happily. What adventures we could get into. Take him to the park, eat lunch together and just chill out. Last week he had his 4 year check up and, because of bad scheduling on my part, we went home for the afternoon. He didn’t really want to nap and I didn’t push it. He just colored and watched Aladdin WHILE I WORKED. You Guys!!!!! That has never happened. He was happy to play by himself. At one point he asked me to bring him an apple (like in Aladdin) and some milk on the couch. He wanted to cuddle later and then we went to the grocery store together because IT IS JUST EASY.
The other thing is his interactions with Ollie. I can’t reiterate enough how AWESOME of a big brother he is. He is always looking to make him laugh and happy. If Ollie is crying in the car, he is passing him toys and singing silly songs. Sometimes they just hold hands between the carseats {I KNOW, RIGHT??!?!} The age difference is just perfect. He likes to care for Ollie but still able to “play”. They wrestle, chase each other and Landon even holds Ollie to slide. The love between them is probably my favorite parenting moments. When he went to the River with his grandparents without us a few days early {yes that can happen now and it is AMAZING}, he had a grand ole time. When we got there and they saw each other for the first time in days, oh y’all, it was the sweetest thing I may have ever seen. Ollie squealed and kicked and lunged for him. Landon just yelled ” MY BABY BEANS”. Fuck, I’m tearing up writing this.
I will leave you with the prime example of 4 and their age difference. I usually get Ollie up first and then go through their connected bathroom and let him crawl to Landon’s bed. This particular morning, Landon wanted to immediately read a book to Ollie. So he is showing signs of a love for reading, wanting to help his brother and just being so ridiculously cute. And Beans is all ears…
So hang in there, the threenager gives way to a kick ass kid.
I really needed to read this post today. Archer’s 3 and awful, Baby 2 is due in 49 days and I’m stressed a shit. Feeling like I’ve made the worst string of decisions EVER in having another baby right now. But it’ll probably okay, huh?
Oh, man. So my 2 1/2 year old that is driving me bat shit crazy with the tantrums, defiant behavior, and epic meltdowns, is only the beginning of what’s in store?!?!? Great. Imma need more alcohol…
I love this! We are the cusp of four with Henry and I *think* I’m starting to see the end of threenager-hood and the beginning of this awesome stage of which you speak. Praise the Lord!
Thank you for giving me hope! My 1 year old is a cranky mess with all of his molars coming in, so the fact that my 3.5 year old is damn near impossible these days makes me want to pull my hair out…and drink…and stay at work just that much longer!!
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