Prior to Adrey being born I remember reading the universal parenting manual. I remember noticing chapter 3 was missing from the book. I thought it was strange, but the binding of the book was a little bent so I thought maybe it "fell out". Didn't give it too much thought, really. It wasn't until I started packing that I pulled my wrapping paper bin out from under my bed and lo and behold there was chapter 3. The title of the chapter in big bold font read:
"Parenting a strong willed 3 year old that chooses not to listen, every other word is "no" and whom prefers not to take naps"
And the strangest part, the entire content of the chapter was only two sentences long. It read:
Run. Run as fast as you can and return when they're 4.
Well, it's too late now. Had I read chapter three prior to Adrey being three, maybe I could've "run" but I'm in too deep now:-)
OK, so maybe there's not really a "universal parenting book", maybe I made all that up, and of course, if even given the opportunity to "run" I wouldn't in a million years, BUT I CAN honestly say that parenting a 3 year old is no small task!! I wish there WAS a parenting manual with a real chapter three on how to perfectly parent during this most challenging time and how to handle all situations with ease and grace (all the while keeping my cool) because it's hard!
I'm exaggerating a bit, because overall Adrey is one heck of a good kid, but he's going through the typical three year old "stuff". The not choosing to listen and the pushing Charlie around, though, are the two toughies that we're having the hardest time with. I honestly never knew how hard it would be. I remember saying to Sarah when Katelyn was just an infant that I was scared to death of having a child and the child not listening. I mean, I pictured me telling my child to do something and my child standing there with his/her hands crossed and saying "NO". Well, the image I had in my head then is something I witness fairly often now in real life! Oh, the foreshadowing.
And the whole Charlie thing... When Charlie was an infant, Adrey would, unsolicited, approach Charlie and kiss him on the head. He was so sweet to him. I thought maybe our children would be an "exception" and that Adrey would take Charlie under his wing and nurture him and be this great big brother/friend to his little sidekick. It couldn't be more opposite. Adrey will walk past Charlie and knock him down just for the heck of it. Or if Charlie has a toy, oddly, it's all of a sudden Adrey's FAVORITE toy EVERY TIME and he HAS to have it. We're really trying to figure this out.... I know what it's like to have a best friend in a sibling and I want the same for my boys. I know it's natural for siblings to fight, but I want to instill in them NOW the importance of brotherhood and family. I just hope we are successful in the end.
It's the snuggles at night before bedtime and when Adrey "reads" Brown Bear, Brown Bear to me and says "Brown Bear, Brown Bear what you lookin' at?" not to be funny, but because he thinks that's how it goes, that melt my heart and make it all worth it. And when completely unsolicited Adrey looks at me and says, "Mommy, I love you to the moon and back." Thankfully there are FAR more wonderful, heart-warming moments like these than there are those frustrating "just-shoot-me" ones.
It's all part of it and I wouldn't change it for the world, but I will whole-heartedly admit that never in my life have I ever been challenged this much. Sometimes I just look up in the air and say "Really?" as if someone is going to answer. Oddly no one ever does, unless it's Adrey who says, "Really what Mom. Why did you say 'really'?"
So, the other night, we are all sitting down at dinner and COMPLETELY out of the blue, as John and I were talking about work or something, Adrey says, "We don't say God Dammit, cuz we say 'what the heck.'" Ho-lee crap. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. GD is not something that is normal in our vocabulary for sure, but I can't say it's never been said, because we're far from perfect. Where in the world Adrey came up with THAT "rule", though, is beyond me! But it was so freakin' funny and I can't think about it without laughing hysterically!! Not that I'm promoting comments like that AT ALL, but it's innocent things like that that come out of his mouth that make me just want to squeeze him he's so cute!
I've got some videos I've been meaning to share so here goes...
We went to a carnival back in December and there was a gigantic slide to ride. John was sure it was fine for Adrey to go on and I disagreed. I thought it was way too steep, but John assured me it was fine. You can't see Adrey's face, but he had the most terrified look on his face (that's why Mike was laughing so hard) until they got to the end and he realized he was still alive and then he thought it was GREAT! To see the video, click HERE.
The boys and I went to the park and Adrey was swinging on the tire swing and having an absolute blast! Click HERE to see it.
We visited a different park during December, also, and the boys kept trying to swipe my phone from me while I was recording them! Click HERE to see. Little stinkers!!
John has all of his P90X (video workouts) on his iPad. Adrey was sitting on the floor watching the videos and didn't know we were watching. He started "doing" the workouts. I got several other videos but I had to post the one where we got "busted" watching him. Click HERE to see it.
We have moved into our new house and are settled for the most part. I have photos/videos of the move and our new digs which I'll post soon. There's also been weddings and baby showers that I need to post too! I'll catch up soon... I will!!
OK, so maybe there's not really a "universal parenting book", maybe I made all that up, and of course, if even given the opportunity to "run" I wouldn't in a million years, BUT I CAN honestly say that parenting a 3 year old is no small task!! I wish there WAS a parenting manual with a real chapter three on how to perfectly parent during this most challenging time and how to handle all situations with ease and grace (all the while keeping my cool) because it's hard!
I'm exaggerating a bit, because overall Adrey is one heck of a good kid, but he's going through the typical three year old "stuff". The not choosing to listen and the pushing Charlie around, though, are the two toughies that we're having the hardest time with. I honestly never knew how hard it would be. I remember saying to Sarah when Katelyn was just an infant that I was scared to death of having a child and the child not listening. I mean, I pictured me telling my child to do something and my child standing there with his/her hands crossed and saying "NO". Well, the image I had in my head then is something I witness fairly often now in real life! Oh, the foreshadowing.
And the whole Charlie thing... When Charlie was an infant, Adrey would, unsolicited, approach Charlie and kiss him on the head. He was so sweet to him. I thought maybe our children would be an "exception" and that Adrey would take Charlie under his wing and nurture him and be this great big brother/friend to his little sidekick. It couldn't be more opposite. Adrey will walk past Charlie and knock him down just for the heck of it. Or if Charlie has a toy, oddly, it's all of a sudden Adrey's FAVORITE toy EVERY TIME and he HAS to have it. We're really trying to figure this out.... I know what it's like to have a best friend in a sibling and I want the same for my boys. I know it's natural for siblings to fight, but I want to instill in them NOW the importance of brotherhood and family. I just hope we are successful in the end.
It's the snuggles at night before bedtime and when Adrey "reads" Brown Bear, Brown Bear to me and says "Brown Bear, Brown Bear what you lookin' at?" not to be funny, but because he thinks that's how it goes, that melt my heart and make it all worth it. And when completely unsolicited Adrey looks at me and says, "Mommy, I love you to the moon and back." Thankfully there are FAR more wonderful, heart-warming moments like these than there are those frustrating "just-shoot-me" ones.
It's all part of it and I wouldn't change it for the world, but I will whole-heartedly admit that never in my life have I ever been challenged this much. Sometimes I just look up in the air and say "Really?" as if someone is going to answer. Oddly no one ever does, unless it's Adrey who says, "Really what Mom. Why did you say 'really'?"
So, the other night, we are all sitting down at dinner and COMPLETELY out of the blue, as John and I were talking about work or something, Adrey says, "We don't say God Dammit, cuz we say 'what the heck.'" Ho-lee crap. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. GD is not something that is normal in our vocabulary for sure, but I can't say it's never been said, because we're far from perfect. Where in the world Adrey came up with THAT "rule", though, is beyond me! But it was so freakin' funny and I can't think about it without laughing hysterically!! Not that I'm promoting comments like that AT ALL, but it's innocent things like that that come out of his mouth that make me just want to squeeze him he's so cute!
I've got some videos I've been meaning to share so here goes...
We went to a carnival back in December and there was a gigantic slide to ride. John was sure it was fine for Adrey to go on and I disagreed. I thought it was way too steep, but John assured me it was fine. You can't see Adrey's face, but he had the most terrified look on his face (that's why Mike was laughing so hard) until they got to the end and he realized he was still alive and then he thought it was GREAT! To see the video, click HERE.
The boys and I went to the park and Adrey was swinging on the tire swing and having an absolute blast! Click HERE to see it.
We visited a different park during December, also, and the boys kept trying to swipe my phone from me while I was recording them! Click HERE to see. Little stinkers!!
John has all of his P90X (video workouts) on his iPad. Adrey was sitting on the floor watching the videos and didn't know we were watching. He started "doing" the workouts. I got several other videos but I had to post the one where we got "busted" watching him. Click HERE to see it.
We have moved into our new house and are settled for the most part. I have photos/videos of the move and our new digs which I'll post soon. There's also been weddings and baby showers that I need to post too! I'll catch up soon... I will!!
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