TRUE: Though I love my kids, 0-3 years are my least favorite time.
June 16, 2007
Yep, it’s true. Let me preface by at least saying it wasn’t ALL bad. In fact, with Dylan, aside from the heart trouble, he was pretty good until he hit that stage where he didn’t nap anymore, instead crashing in the car on the way home from the sitters. The dinner hour.
Thomas is at that stage now.
At around 3, kids learn to DO more. They definitely walk more, relieving the strain on your back. They are better at telling you what they need. There is a glimmer of hope of potty training, though I’m starting to believe Thomas may need size 18 diapers packed alongside his calculus book someday. He simply is NOT interested.
When asked if he would like to go potty, he says he “wikes going poop in his diaper.” Good luck getting a girlfriend, Stinkpot. Girls don’t typically go for guys that smell like ass, but then I guess they marry us and see that as a license to fart so maybe he is the smart one in this equation.
I certainly see age 3 as a bit of a relief for parents. Sleeping 8 hours in a row, nipples back in place, underoos on the horizon…3 is lookin’ pretty damn good.
Course with Dylan being nearly 9, I’ve been thinking about the next few years and how the friends he keeps are already influencing his life. His best friend at school introduced him to Green Day, and recently, My Chemical Romance. As a bit of a music snob, knowing my kid likes bands that hock their merch at Walmart kinda bugs me.
While I know he is better off having me as a parent than a friend, I am biting my tongue in half because he is growing his hair long. Up until yesterday, it was in his eyes, and he fought me tooth and nail about going to the hairdresser. The funny part was that I didn’t think the haircut did him any justice, in fact, I should have left it alone, because now the poor kid looks kinda like um, Rebecca. Who is very pretty, but clearly does not have the style of a Green Day lovin’ 8 year old boy.
I got to thinking about the next 9 years and what kinds of things he might throw at us. What about tattoos? At what age can I just let go and let him make that decision? Does a 15, 16, 17, 18 year old know what they really want at that age? What about alcohol? What kind of drugs will exist a few years from now? What kind of grades will he get? What if he quits school? What if he gets in trouble with the law? What kinds of friends will he bring home? OH MY GOD WHAT KINDS OF GIRLS WILL HE DATE? (What if he doesn’t date girls at all?)
Yeah, so ask me that question about ages 0-3 in a few years. I bet my answer will change.
Want to play? Add your guesses for #’s 7-10 here, and let me know if you’re playing on your blog too!
Related posts:
- At nearly 33 Years Old, I Would Be Dead Right Now, and My Kids Would Be Orphans One of my very good friends, Chris, and his...
- True Love: Text-Message Edition SugarHubs and I often text back and forth throughout the...
- 10 Years 10 years ago today I married my best friend. That...
- What Is Your Favorite Healthy Snack? I was going to write something on Saturday, but it...
- See No Color….Love the World 50 years ago today, Rosa Parks stood up for what...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Stumble it!
June 16th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Crap I think I got this one wrong!
June 16th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Just wait till he hits 11 and little girls are sending hime love notes and he changes “girlfriends” on a weekly basis. I was not impressed with 4-7 and I am really starting to feel that way about 11.
June 16th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I have nothing to compare it to, but I’m loving 13 months. At least I’m in control! (a little, anyway…)
June 16th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
My aunt always said 0-3 sucked, until my cousin hit 13. Now she’d take a three year old non potty user any day over the back talking sulking attitude that is her son. Just think by the time Dylan is pass the worst of the teen stage you’ll get to do it over again. (Sorry)
ps. I taught in a 3 year old preschool class for two years. Boys just take longer to use the toilet. Not all boys, but most. But between three and four they all seem to get it. Once they decide they like to stand and watch themselves pee. Thomas will get there.
June 17th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Oh how I would love to have the 0-3 yrs back. Mine is 17, has an opinoin on everything (which is good), has a girlfriend (ok at times), and trying to cut the apron strings everyday. I am trying to hold on to what little I still have. I know he’s maturing, etc but sometimes I want the little boy back. I miss being needed for more than food and $$$. Hence why I take my godson every chance I can get. He’s 15 months old and right now, loves to imitate his mom throwing up from morning sickness. And gives amazing hugs.
The diapers….he’ll figure it out. I thought mine would walk down the aisle one day in diapers but he figured it out.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:27 am
THANK YOU for saying this. I always feel somewhat a freak because I too loved both of my kids, but the first 3 years were HARD, esp. with my son. Now at 12 and 5, I do get baby twinges, but that’s not happening again short of divine intervention LOL.
The drugs/sex/alcohol issues worry me, but I figure if my kids want tattoos or piercings, there are worse things. Esp. since I want tattoos as well
My daughter is gearing up with the hormones which drives me batty, but she makes up for it with how much she gives back to us.
June 17th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I think parents secretly hate every year…lmao just kidding. But there are ups and downs with each age, thats for damn sure!
June 17th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
LOL..I got this one right! wooohoooo. Only because I know that ages 1-3 were the hardest for me! LOL.
Alex is 8 now and Liberty 5 and I’m already terrified of what the future holds. Alex will definitely be interesting as the tween years are already sending me to the ’self help’ parenting section. Liberty, at 5, is already acting so much like an emotional boomerang that I’m terrified for teen years.
As for all the ‘what if’s’ of drugs, sex and friends, I used to obsess about them and how we handled them. But I realized (based on some huge mistakes by my parents regarding these issues) that the most I can do is instill in them the brains to make the right choices, set rules and boundaries, and be there for them when they need me. The rest I have to trust that they will make the right choice and guide them as they continue to grow as much as I can.
Personally, from what I’ve read about your family, I think you’re kids will turn out great.
xoxoxo
June 17th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
0-3 kind of sucked for us too. Not that 4 is a cake walk either. I’m thinking Tigger will have Good Nite diapers in size 18 too! And the mouth he is getting already, oy vey! I don’t want to think of the teenage years yet. I’m not listening….nananannananana
June 18th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I am the opposite of you. 0-3 was absolutely my favorite ages. I have loved all the ages so far except for around the beginning of first grade. Something about them testing their limits and getting a tiny bit sassy but not knowing exactly when it is appropriate bugs me. After first grade, it has been good again…so far. Like you, I say ask me again later and maybe the age I disliked so far may end up not being so bad once I have other things to worry about!
June 18th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Nope. My little boys are never going to grow up. Nananananananana. I can’t hear you! (Holding hands over ears and eyes.)