If you came here looking for answers on taming the three year old, well, I’m sorry to disappoint, my friends. I don’t have a step-by-step guide to figuring out these little wildlings {shout out to my Game of Thrones fans!}, but what I do have are my penned thoughts scribbled one afternoon as a means to calm myself while attempting to navigate the three year old minefield.
- You being three reminds me that you have a life ahead of you full of big emotions. May you feel strongly enough about your values that you may be moved to tears to believe in them, defend them, pass them along to your children.
- You being three reminds me that the calm I speak over the storms at the dinner table will be mirrored when when you might need to remain calm in the midst of chaos. May I uphold my end of this deal with actions that later guide your own.
- You being three teaches me about how intricate curiosity can be. Sure, it’s a trait to be encouraged, but one with dire consequences. See also, “Nooooooo! Do not grab the smelly thing inside a port-a-potty urinal! Ever.” At least you didn’t lick anything. See, learning already. May your curiosity {and discretion} continue to blossom.
- You being three reminds me that your life holds choices – both trivial and of deeper gravity. May your core guide you, your faith solidify you, your people surround and support you.
- You being three reminds me that you’ve got to chisel through as your discover who you are. There are tests in your life to come, places where you’ll decide to leave your mark. May your choices be wise. May you have safe surroundings when you fall.
- You being three doesn’t let me forget that you are three. Your whining reminds me. Maybe your breakfast is too hot. Then too cold. Then too cracked. Then too dry. Then you have no one to eat with you, for we ate and left after you held onto the issues mentioned. May you always feel empowered to speak up — God-willing, you learn a more effective tone.
- You being three reminds me that sometimes you just don’t know. That’s right. You are crying and broken, and you cannot find words of reasoning. Sometimes the world is wrong. All of it. And you don’t even know why. Indeed, child, our world is often wrong. Leaders don’t get it right. People mistreat one another – just because. It doesn’t feel good to be a part of this living organism we call the human race. And it’s okay to feel that; sometimes it is all wrong, and we don’t know why. May you be enlightened enough to allow yourself to feel that and brave enough to forge forward regardless.
- You being three reminds me that sometimes you don’t have a place. We want you to be a “big boy” – get dressed by yourself, find your shoes, use the bathroom {and your words}, etc. – but for the love, take a nap and let us hold you and follow us blindly as a baby might. May you always trust yourself during the moments in your life when you feel you belong neither here nor there. I promise. These times come.
With just a little change of perspective, I can view the year of the three year old as one full of opportunity instead of challenge. It’s one in which I should expect chaos and celebrate minor improvements. I’m not going to lie; it’s work to love each and every year of your child’s life, and quite frankly, you don’t have to love them – the years that is. Our children are another story. They are where our story should be, and loving these little three year olds as they navigate the minefield of growing up is where I’m giving my love energy.
