Sunday 1 May 2011

Three Is




Three is a difficult age. Tiny is really asserting her independence. And her authority. Weeing on everything when she's literally pee'd off with us. I wish I was kidding.


She's Tantytown Superstar. She's over tired. She loves getting her own way, and she loves letting us know about it.


Tonight I was moving the living room around a little, and Matt and I discussed moving some furniture to make some space. I said, ok I think I am ready to get rid of the wardrobe (that is currently in our living room - yeah go figure - but it has a story). So get rid of the wardrobe, or Tiny. Matt's very quick reply: "We can store things in the wardrobe."


We're fatigued with this little assertive three year old.

At the best of times, she is a joyful little being. So full of wonder. Skipping ahead - learning so much, a delight to be with.


At the worst of times she has me screeching at the buckets of water on the bathroom floor that takes me countless rounds of mopping, letting her know I'm not happy about the yoghurt being massaged into the carpet, the drawings on the wall.

And then soon she will be four, and I will miss the mischievous, crazy-fun of a three year old. Yearn for her to be smaller again. I already do that now.


I feel like the grumpiest mother ever to walk this earth. I'll try to screech a little less this week.

14 comments:

Norbyah said...

don't feel bad. and try not to beat yourself up. three IS tough (i remember that about my two older ones, thinking two was a piece of cake compared to three). but, now i've got child number three, who is really, really terrible at two (and she has me shaking in my boots about three). some days i'd like to give her away. really. your comment about getting rid of the wardrobe or tiny really doesn't phase me one bit. i get it!

hang in there.
xo
n

Diminishing Lucy said...

Lexi, do not fret. My Lexie, who drove me mad at three, got to four (just, without me giving her away), and all the enchanting bits get even better, and the naughty bits get even smarter.

trudi@maudeandme said...

Hi Lexi,Some girls just have that "special" ability to wind their mums up.It's lucky for them their mumms love them so much. I thought exactly like you about my 3 year old , and then when she was 4, and now she is 5... and I'm still hoping she will out grow her stubborness and general diregard for my authority when she is 6! I keep telling myself this determination will be used for good , not evil , when she is in her twenties....

Ellieboo said...

Trust me, I could give you a run for your money in the screeching at my 3 year department. I love reading you Tiny tales - my Ellie is pretty similar in her behaviour and it makes me realise I am not alone.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Three is tough. So very tough. Tough on us. Tough on them. Thanks so much for putting it out there. So we all don't feel alone in the tough threes x

Georgie Love said...

Oh god, I am feeling it Lex. We are smack on 2.5 and I don't know if it's terrible twos or threes, but she is driving us up the wall. Of course, we love her to bits and I know I don't have to really explain that, but JESUS CHILD, just shut up for 5 minutes and stop throwing things on the floor.

I thought it was maybe just that sore and pregnant ladies and toddlers were a bad fit.

Ange Moore said...

Three year old girls are hard work. We only made it through because my husband reminded me that this head-strong, unwaivering committment to a cause was admirable in adult women (but painful for parents in a 3 year old)!

Good luck - there will be light at the end of the tunnel, and if not, it's only 15 more years before you can kick her out!!

spectacularfairywren said...

oh i feel your pain. And your wrist-holding with FIRMNESSEST and i bet you know what i mean...

Mine 3.5er is a right little shit at his worst and a delight to be with sometimes. I must say the times i enjoy him most is when it is just the two of us.

I just used 'the easter bunny had more eggs for you but left these potatoes instead' as a sly attempt to curb chocolate intake and send a reminder... It backfired. He thought it was hiLARIOus... or 'hilare' as one would say.

thanks for keeping it dirty and real

KPB said...

Three is an absolute mind-fuck. They're hilarious and fun, quirky and outrageous, inquisitive and adoring.
Then you turn around, or look at them the wrong way, or use the wrong tone of voice, or require them to do something innocuous in a pretty achievable time frame and O.M.G. the world is ending. You are "SO MEAN", they just "DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE" and on and on it goes.
And just when you think you can not do it anymore, can not deal with, negotiate, tolerate any of it anymore, they turn four and life gets so.much.better.

I'm currently counting down to 2 July in this house...

Sarah said...

Oh Lexi! You are not alone!!!

gemma @ loz and dinny said...

Yep. 3. 3 has balls on it. And good stuff. But balls. Spirited smalls are the bomb ... but an occasional mute function would be a genetic improvement of darwinian proportions. x

sophie said...

you are so not alone - you have heard my rants about my kids (Lucia was hideous until she was four and even now does my head in). It's a freaking tough job that gets no rewards you just have to try and get through it without mother guilt (which is hard I know). Tiny knows your commitment to her, she gets how much you love her - you are a fantastic mother.
xxx

Rachael @Mogantosh said...

Four is such an improvement Lex, I swear. The good-crazy bits stay crazy. But there is just a little less of the head fuckery.

Hang in there.

ps - my word veri is 'footparth'. Have you done this on purpose, still yearning for the Royal Wedding?>

Anonymous said...

too funny, I have a just turned 3 year old....it's totally the age, for sure.