Jack Jack has been wearing “big boy” underwear for almost nine months.
Jack Jack has been sleeping in a “big boy” bed since his third birthday, this past June.
We have been encouraging Jack Jack to take care of his toileting needs independently for the last two months.
I went back to work in August after having the summer off with Jack Jack and the rest of the family.
Jack Jack started going to preschool two afternoons a week, about a month ago.
We have been having Jack Jack dress himself for the last month.
Jack Jack starting attending a Sunday School class at our church just a few short weeks ago.
Whew! Is it any wonder, with all the changes going on, that Jack Jack is also giving us a hard time about things that used to be easy? When I think about all of the transitions Jack Jack has gone through in the last year, and all of the new tasks he is responsible for, and the new separations he has taken on, it seems obvious to me that there might be times that he might put up a fuss or two.
Our mornings went from calm to chaos to calm again. In return for the return of peaceful morning routines, we seemed to have shifted to over-tired, screaming, scratching, bath hating evening routines. Jack Jack learned how to antagonize his nine-year-old brother and do it well. The house is rarely ever peaceful anymore. Jack Jack ended the summer refusing his once loved sandals, only allowing crocs to grace his feet, and never with socks. He only will wear his favorite “soft blue shorts with the sign on them” or in a pinch his “soft brown shorts.” He hates pants, especially jeans, but only wants to wear long jammies, not short jammies, no matter how hot it is outside or inside his bedroom. He will not eat real food. He only wants chocolate milk and cookies. He does not want to sit at the dinner table and can make the whole neighborhood aware of this fact. He is, in as few words as possible, the perfect three year old.
As befitting his role as the perfect three year old, he is also loving. He hugs so tight that you don’t ever want to let go. He loves to be read to. He loves to paint and draw and color and create. He is doing well at school, even if he still won’t admit it is fun. He can almost navigate the entire Nick Jr. website independently. He loves to golf. He loves to be outside, chasing bugs, climbing, riding, running. And sometimes, after all that running and creating and transitioning, he still falls asleep on his mommy’s lap, arms wrapped tight around his precious blankies. And as I watch him sleep I realize that transitions are hard, for all of us. But, they are especially tiring for those who are still small and have little say in the matter. My transition is to regain my patience and my perspective and to remember that he is three and sometimes three is not easy, but at the same time, three is wonderful.
Photo graciously provided by Marko_K, through a Creative Commons license, some rights reserved
3 responses so far ↓
Jen // Oct 2, 2008 at 9:24 am
I never thought 2 was too bad, but 3 was hard for me. My daughter is turning 4 at the end of the month and I can already see that she’s starting to act more human.
Kayris // Oct 2, 2008 at 10:14 am
3 was pure hell. He turned 4 in September and while he has his moments, I agree with what Jen said. He is becoming more human and less of the other stuff.
Lori // Oct 2, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Those of us who are well above the age of 3 in our household often look at each other during one of Pumpkin’s tirades and say, “It’s not easy being three.” Because, well, it’s not.
But I agree, there is so much about three that is really, really wonderful.
Leave a Comment