Toddlers be cray, man.
SO CRAY!
There are days when I feel like I’m living in a hostage negotiation situation, where I’m the hostage, and I’m doing everything I can to keep my toddler captor from losing her sh*t!
No really, though. I mean, it’s hard because she’s still learning how to manage her emotions, and when she just can’t deal, her frustration flows out of her through in fierce and epic tantrums. I, in turn, am also learning how to be the most patient version of myself (OH, LAWD, GIVE ME STRENGTH!). That part of toddler-hood is utterly and completely exhausting, no doubt, but for the most part, life with this newly minted threenager is fun.
One particularly cool part of this time is hearing her put together complete sentences and using new words. The other day she said that the book she was “reading” (she sits on the couch with a book, which is usually upside-down, and looks at the pictures) was complex. “Mommy, this story is so complicated! There are so many pictures of different frogs.”
Oh, and then there’s the running toddler commentary on anything and everything. “Mommy, do you see the airplane? Is the plane going to Hawaii? Mommy, THE MOON! I see the moon, and the moon sees me. Mommy why are stopping? Is the light red? Oh, look mommy, THERE’S A BUS! I see a bus! And a fire truck!”
😬
Even though she definitely has her meltdowns and crabby days (don’t we all), the good times outweigh the hard stuff. Like, the nicest thing happened last week. We were driving to Target to look at nail polish, which she’s been more and more interested in lately. I figure that if I make the fruit too forbidden, it’ll be that much more enticing, so I told her that, as a reward for having a good week at school and for listening to mommy and daddy and being nice to her big brother (Tabs) and picking up her toys, she could pick out a nail polish of her own that I would do her nails with.
On the way to the store, while we were waiting at a stoplight, Connor got really quiet and said, “Mommy, you’re a really good mama. You listen. You REALLY listen.”
I almost burst into tears right then and there, but instead I said, “Thank you, Connor. That’s a really nice thing to say. You’re a really good daughter.”
My heart… ❤️ It felt like it was going to explode.
Note to self: Hold on to this memory, because she’ll be a teenager soon enough, and that’s gonna be a hoot!
She ended up picking out a sparkly blue, pink and purple glitter by Sally Hansen, and she insisted that we paint our toes the same color so we could match, awww!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict
Karen
Sienna says
March 19th, 2019 at 10:37 amAwwww! This makes me cry just reading it. Connor is growing so much! My daughter is about to turn three and i think “three-nager” is the perfect way to describe them! You seem like a really good and attentive mother!
kellly says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:34 amI’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one who got a tear in my eye reading this! What an awesome thing for her to say, and what a wonderful moment. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:00 pmAww, of course, Kellly. Thank you for reading and for listening to me ramble on about my Coywolf.
Hope you’re having a nice day so far!
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:01 pmHi Sienna,
Doesn’t the time go by so fast? It seems like the days when I could have her next to me in her baby carrier were just yesterday. Now she’s running all over the place and getting into everything.
Carina says
March 19th, 2019 at 10:40 amSoooooo cute!
Thank you for sharing this moment with us…
Your daughter got it completely right, what is important, when you really care for someone – clever girl <3
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:00 pmThank you, Carina. Her statement came out of nowhere, and it was such a nice surprise.
I hope you’re having a wonderful day so far!
Tiffany says
March 19th, 2019 at 10:56 amawwww, too much sweetness! Also my youngest is 5.5 and she still gives a running commentary on EVERYTHING lol
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:59 amI can’t believe your youngest is already five! How old is your older daughter now? Time sure flies!
Tatiana says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:15 amI was once told that the way your child is at two or three that’s what they’d be like as a teenager. To be honest, Dear Daughter was way better and easier to handle as a teenager than as a toddler. More language and reasoning skills. As long as I remembered to not go into the situation yelling and screaming, I usually got her attention and cooperation.
I used to love the running commentary. It never stopped and when she comes over it still goes on, except now it’s about work and everything else. Part of me preferred the “Look! The train!” commentary.
I love the pictures of her on the sofa with her books and with Tabs.
I used to love reading to Dear Daughter every night before bed.
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:58 amOh, I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that she’s just like this when she’s a teen. I forgot to mention that we’re reading Anne of Green Gables right now. We go through a page in the morning when she wakes up and a page before she goes to bed, and even though there aren’t any pictures she likes to pick out familiar letters.
I remember you mentioning your DD loved Madeline. What other books did she like?
Tatiana says
March 19th, 2019 at 4:09 pmOk, Connor is more advanced because we didn’t get to Anne of Green Gables until she was in grade school.
She loved so much. There is still over 50 feet of linear book shelving in her room and my husbands office filled with books for her. Anything with a smart, strong female lead. Like “Princess Smarty Pants” and others by that author. Before she could read there were the “Good Dog Carl” picture books. “A Serious Case of Spots” (about not following the crowd and fitting in). The “Sheep in A Jeep” series for some ridiculously funny rhyming and teaching how to read. The Harry Potter books came out when she was five or six and we read the first two to her, then she read the remainder as they came out. I could go on… Lot’s of good memories associated with reading in this family.
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 7:21 pmI think she might just like the fact that we snuggle when we read Anne of Green Gables, lol. I’m not sure if she’s paying attention but I’ll take it!
Thank you for the list of books. I can’t wait to get them for her!
Lorraine says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:28 amwhat a sweetheart Connor Claire is! you are so blessed and she is lucky to have you as her mom looking out for her. Enjoy your threenager, and all the wonder she brings to daily life.
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:56 amThank you, Lorraine. I am really lucky to have her. 🙂
Michele DiCola says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:30 amSo very sweet !
She’s growing up so fast . I have so many memories that we still laugh about . My daughter had her own lingo : Mommy I was gots a cold .
And then I go into her room and everything was out of the drawers and on the floor ! She said : “ I didn’t see myself do it !” That line was owned by everyone after that . Anyone who made a mess said I didn’t see myself do it !
I started writing all of these gems 💎 to read back to them .
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 11:55 amAhhh, too funny! I might have to borrow the “I didn’t see myself do it” line, too.
How old is your daughter now, Michele?
Kristen says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:00 pmShe’s adorable! And what an excellent nail polish choice!
Lily says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:23 pmSuch a sweet girl. Cherish every moment!
Linda says
March 19th, 2019 at 12:47 pmAw, I’m Ferklemped!
Definitely hold onto this! Teenaged are gawd aweful.
Ilene says
March 19th, 2019 at 2:08 pmAWWWW, she’s adorable and what a sweet thing to say. She’s very bright and verbal for her age. Enjoy. It goes by too quickly!
Ilene
Karen says
March 19th, 2019 at 7:22 pmHi Ilene,
It’s going by too fast! I wish I could slow it down.
LindaLibraLoca says
March 19th, 2019 at 9:45 pmOh, that has me all teary eyed. My son turned three too, and even though I knew what to expect (after all I already have a five year old) the tantrums took me by surprise. I don’t know if she was calmer (I don’t think so) or if that memory just faded much quicker, but it surely cured me from wanting a third one.
The good moments outweigh the tantrums by far for sure, but man are they exhausting.
You are a great mom, Karen, Connor is absolutely right. You know what counts.
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Kim says
March 20th, 2019 at 12:04 pmI love everything about this post. <3
Rachel Runyan says
March 20th, 2019 at 1:11 pmSo much cuteness! I approve of her nail polish choice, too.
The tantrums: At three they become little lawyers and try to negotiate or outsmart you. They’re not nearly as easy to handle as the so-called “terrible twos.” I always thought three was much harder! Sometimes their arguments are really hilarious — or frighteningly smart.
Carol b says
March 20th, 2019 at 1:32 pmThat age is def tough but the good so out weighs the bad. My son now 30 would say things too that would make your heart melt. Than when I met my hubby now and his three kids I loved them as my own and do this day and all seven grandkids r so much loved but the granddaughters live to come here as I have always done their nails and than sticker or gems now that they r older. It’s wonderful memories to have acherish. I wish I had started a journal of all the funny things they all said. Than u could look back when they r older and have a moment together reading them all.
TravelingBlush says
March 22nd, 2019 at 5:06 amLet see them toes!
Soo says
March 22nd, 2019 at 8:11 pmKaren, your daughter is adorable. I can’t believe I’ve been reading your blog for probably 8ish years now. I knew you pre-baby!