Tomorrow is going to be a daddy / daughter day for myself and the toddler. For once I am not even slightly concerned with the responsibility that has been thrust upon me. I now have enough of a reserve of knowledge and experience that I am actually looking forward to it. Gone are the days of calling Wife every 5 minutes asking what to feed the child etc. These days I just give her whatever it is I am having, soooooooo much simpler.
I do love the time that is spent with the toddler these days - whenever she isn’t having a tantrum that is. She seems to have really blossomed in the last couple of weeks since turning 3. I know it is silly to think that a change in numbers is that big a deal, it is after all an arbitrary thing. All I can tell is that in the last couple of weeks she seems more secure, maybe all that fuss about her becoming a ‘big girl’ had something to do with it.
All I know is that she has made a friend of her very own as opposed to the ones she has been forced to hang out with because the mothers all spend time together. Also we went to a toddler party today (yet another one) and she not only joined in and danced, but did so in front of everyone there and actually played up to the attention she received.
Another example from today’s party is the way when someone tried to take a wand off her she actually stood up for herself, said ‘No’ and kept hold of the wand. The slightly inconvenient truth that the wand wasn’t hers in the first place is something I am willing to over look just because I was so proud of her for standing up for herself.
Now if she can maintain that confidence and extend it to not being afraid to go on the toilet as opposed to her potty I will be one very happy chappy. Oh, and Usurper the baby of the house would like to put in a vote for slightly less exuberant hugs from Little Miss.
Finally Wife keeps telling me that Little Miss is no longer a toddler now that she is 3 and I should change this I my site. I have so far refused, and will probably continue to for a couple of reasons:
1. Usurper will be a toddler eventually hence the title will become relevant again.
2. I am a lazy bugger and can’t be bothered going to the effort.
But it did get me thinking - is there and official time when you cross over from toddlerville?
I’ve been wondering that myself…when to stop calling my son a toddler. And you are so right….it’s as if 3 is a magic number. My son turned 3 last weekend and all of a sudden we have conversations, he’s more agreeable, and can easily do more for himself. It’s amazing to watch.
ABC’s website / child section calls this age “pre-schooler”.
I much prefer to still call them toddler… Oh no this daddy is having letting-go issues already!
I actually changed the labelling on my website from baby updates to my son’s name. And he is only 5 mths!
Actually only did hat coz I was tooo free….so bz daddy you…just stick to it until you feel the name is making you ill with discomfort! hahaha….
A decision has been made - it seems that most of us don’t actually want to let go of this age so I will continue to refer to Little Miss as a toddler. Probably well into her late teens.
Of course this is nothing to do with my refusing to acknowledge the inevitable march of time as I turn 40 later this year
Tantrums. That’s the thing that’s getting all of us yelling at Micah like everyday. I always start out cool, but he seems to not stop screaming and crying until I start shouting. This is the no-fun part of being a stay-home mom of a three year old. And Max is catching on fast too! But otherwise, he can be funny, still snuggly and asking tougher questions, esp. about the birds and bees - humans and animals.