Olivia turned 4 in November, but I think we finally entered the terrible 2's for her.
When my boys were 4 I felt like I had reached a place where I could breath. But maybe I am remembering them better than they were. Don't get me wrong. The boys were far from saints. Carter pitched fits like no other especially when transitioning from one activity to another. Ethan I had to keep from killing himself or getting kidnapped. The only assurance I had with the latter was that they would for sure be bringing him back after he dismantled their phone/remote/pictures on the wall.
In a nutshell I had to keep one boy alive emotionally and one alive physically.
Part of it, I think, had to do with their communication skills. Or rather their lack of them. Both boys talked later. And Ethan had speech problems so when he did talk you couldn't understand him.
But Olivia has been crystal clear since she was 18 months. Talking circles around children her own age and being mistaken for a small 5 year old. Communication with a toddler is a wonderful thing thus, Olivia missed a lot of the issues Carter had with frustration and that Ethan had with general expressions of what was fun (for example, had Ethan announced that he was running away from me into the choir seats at church, as Olivia would have, I could have prevented a lot of embarrassing and dangerous moments in that boys life. Olivia also would have told me she was planning on climbing our 6 foot retaining wall and the 6 foot fence on top of it, whereas I just heard Ethan calling for help and I had to scale the 12 feet of wall and fence to get him down).
Now it seems she is making up for some developmental mile stones.
Like throwing tantrums in the store when I won't buy her My Little Pony Fruit snacks. Or refusing to wear a coat when it is in fact, still winter here. Or refusing to participate in pre-school because someone took her spot in line during musical chairs.
And lets not forget the aforementioned Sprite declaration in the car the other day.
Added to that was today's demand for a pink and purple mini van. That went on for quite a while. I am sure if she could have read (and don't think this isn't too far behind. She can already pick out the letters for her name, in order, off the magnets on the fridge) the name of the body shop we pass on the way home she would have had me pulling in for a new paint job.
Did I also mention that we have a whole 'nother year until Kindergarten.
Heaven help me.
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11 comments:
Aren't girls great? :)
Oh the drama! She definitely has a mind of her own. The mini-van story is too funny. I'm pretty sure when I was kindergarten I wouldn't wear anything UNLESS it was either pink or purple. Hopefully she won't have a phase like that :)
My 4 yo boy has plenty of screaming fits. I can't wait for kindergarten.
Sounds like she has her mother's brilliance! She is darling, and you will love that spunk and stubborn nature when she stands her ground against those crazy boys in her dating years!!
She and James would get along like crazy!! Honestly as hard as it was to send my baby off to kindergarten, there was some relief in it too, knowing he would be a the big school and learn the BIG ways of doing things. I was hoping some of the opposition-al-ness (nice phrase) and whining on his part would wear off and it mostly has. But still, this is probably a short-lived phase, especially as she's not displayed this kind of behavior before. Sounds like she's trying it on, so to speak!
Hang tough lil' Momma!! It will pass. In the meantime, a pink and purple van sounds awesome!!
She sounds very full of life and happy. My little girl was the same at that age. It was always frustrating, but it will so pay off in the long run. The smarter the better, now Lexi is in kindergarden and learning how to read super fast.. So she sounds like she is just keeping you on your toes!!!
Time will fly and before you know it she will be getting on the bus for school and you will be missing her so much.
She sounds just like Natalie at that age. It still goes on, and she is 14.....of course it's new issues. Just when I think it is getting better, a major meltdown happens. So, I have no advice, sorry!!
Heaven help us both! No wonder Marin and Olivia get along so swimmingly! This is all sounding much too familiar :)
Sounds like my Tori. The drama, the determination, the sense of social justice. She is now 6 and a pleasure, the first 5 years were a challenge...Thank Goodness for Grandma Judi who she always listens to and will do anything for, or I would have lost my mind. Daughters are wonderful, but I have found raising myself to be a little of a challenge. Maybe (just a thought) Olivia may slightly quite possibly have some of your qualities...these are the same ones that make you a wonderful mother. Your week of single parenthood is half way over. Hang in there. BTW I probably would have FLED Alaska by now, the snowblower, lack of sun light, moose and of course the tires would have all sent me down to the lower 48.
The great news is Heaven does help:) It's amazing how hardwired girls and boys are to be diff. I'm just learning with our 4th-our first boy. Have a great trip!
just take a deep breath and keep going. Sometimes its hard, but you can do it. You may not be able to breath until your children are grown--and sometimes not even then. You got this, girl!
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