Three Going On Thirteen
October 16, 2007
What is it about age 3?
Chris just wrote a letter to her almost-teenage son and I could have written the same letter to Thomas.
He gives me these looks like I’m the biggest idiot that ever walked the earth. Last night I hired our sitter so I could take Dylan to hockey practice without the crying and whining from Thomas. That and um, Thomas informed me that he wasn’t going to hockey and that he wanted the sitter. When we returned home, he came down the stairs and shouted at us, “I’M WATCHING MY MOVIE!” Brows furrowed, evil eye, scowling. WTF?
Every morning, going to the gym is like pulling teeth. The first few weeks were difficult enough to get my ass motivated enough to go, but the constant mantra of “I HATE THE GYM AND I HATE YOU AND I HATE THE CAR AND I HATE THESE SOCKS AND I HATE THIS SHIRT AND I HATE OXYGEN!!!!” Yeah that is kinda hard to take.
Now that I’m addicted to the gym and know that my day will be less stressful if I just go and work out, it’s a little easier, but yesterday morning I had a ridiculous conversation with Thomas. I lectured a 3 year old on the benefits of exercise.
*smacks head*
Yes, I’m an idiot.
I told him it makes Mommy happy to go to the gym and work out. That it’s good for my heart and body. Things he wouldn’t really understand I guess, but I was on a roll and he was actually listening. Then I made a mistake. I said I was sick of being fat.
He looked at me, wide eyed, his innocence flowing around me and I knew he was still listening. I stared back, knowing I shouldn’t have said that to him. I don’t want my kids to have negative body images and I know that I need to set the examples of healthy habits without using negativity and such, but it just came out.
Thomas, wiser than me at that moment, put his little arms around my neck and said, “You’re beautiful, Mommy.”
On the way to the gym, he said from the back seat, “I don’t hate the gym Mommy,” which really meant a lot but I don’t know if he just likes doing his own thing here at home or if he isn’t happy with change, or what. It seems he doesn’t like going out, period.
Of course he loves going outside, and loves the library, but running errands, going to the hockey rink and the gym seem to be difficult for him. I try to give him lots of warning before we go anywhere, but he fights me - a lot.
3 was the toughest age for Dylan too, so maybe I just need to be patient and get through this. I need to remember that once he gets to the gym, he’s fine, it’s just some days, by the time I get there, I feel like I’ve already worked out.
?***
OMG you guys have to read this - pee first - thanks Deb!
October 16th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Karen,
Did you read the link sent this weekend about Beautiful Women. If not, go read it: http://www.crossfitoakland.com/archives/2007/10/beauty.html
October 16th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Nice post! I want to teach my son to be healthy and have good habits too plus I AM DYING To join the gym!! UNfortunately the gym doesn’t have a kids area so need a babysitter while the flab sets in. Your kid sons like a sweet gem!
October 16th, 2007 at 9:35 am
The Three’s are almost worse than Two’s to me. They can finally communicate full swing and they use.it.to.drive.you.insane. They test their limits with it, they use ever bad habit they’ve picked up from you and older siblings, and everything is so.much.drama.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
My son was very difficult until about a month ago. He will be 4 in January. This month he has been sweet, helpful and does pretty much whatever I ask of him. I think we have talked before about how difficult he was and how he is lucky he is adorable. Give your guy some time and hopefully it will all come together. I KNOW how frustrating it is though…I almost quit my gym because it was so frustrating to try to get him to go. At one point, he would be so angry about going that the entire time I was away from him, he would sit at a table with his coat and shoes on waiting for me and then yell at me when I returned. Made it extremely difficult to make myself go when it would just be so much easier to hang around in my pajamas all day! I’ll be thinking of you and hoping whatever magic thing happened to make my son turn into a little angel happens for you to (although now that I wrote that I will be the one who needs help again!)
October 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Awh Thomas is sweet, and absolutely right!
October 16th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
My daughter says 2 and 3 are tough…however, you wooed him by being in need of his understanding…good luck the next time…you may have found the formula….?
He sounds like a wonderful three year old. My youngest grandson is four and he is a lot easier to have now. He’s more apt to sit down for a few minutes longer…. As I get older, I’m glad he’s the last..I don’t think my age 61 could go through another baby..I watch my daughter with her two year old grandson, my great grandson, and I love smiling and thinking turn about is fair play…
Have a great day, you sound like such a great mom..
Dorothy from grammology
call your grandma
October 20th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I know, aren’t they funny? It’s not the “terrible two’s” as in 2 years old. That saying got Lost in Translation - it’s a terrible TWO YEARS, about 2 to 4 years old.
The baby (he’s 2 and a half now) just started rolling his eyes at me! It’s more a twitchy look up at the ceiling sort of thing, but that’s what he’s doing. I don’t know WHERE he gets it!
*rolls eyes*
October 21st, 2007 at 11:40 am
Not long after my first child turned three, I left her with my husband and went to my mom’s house and cried. “Seriously,” I said to her, “whoever called it the terrible twos must never have let the child live to be three.”