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She’s Not a Jerk; She’s Just a 3-Year-Old
Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s sobbing uncontrollably on the floor of the store’s changing room. My daughter is throwing a fit because, despite her grandmother wanting to buy her a special dress, she’s furious that she can’t have three. Yes, even the one she said didn’t “twirl right” and the one she flat-out refused to try on. In her eyes, all those dresses are a must-have, so instead of expressing gratitude to Grandma, she’s losing it on the grimy floor.
She’s not a jerk; she’s just a 3-year-old.
Her sweet little buddy asks her to play “walk the stick.” (What even is that?) My daughter kindly declines. Her friend’s adorable face falls in disappointment. “Sophie?” I gently remind her, “Do you remember how sad you felt when your friends said no to playing Rescue Bots last week? That’s how Emma feels now. Could you play ‘walk the stick’ for just a few minutes?” She gives me a blank stare. “No, thank you!” she chirps, turning away.
She’s not heartless; she’s just a 3-year-old.
It’s time to use the bathroom before we head out, but my daughter refuses. “Oh, good, because Mommy really has to go,” I fib, racing toward the bathroom. “Do you need to go really bad?” she asks, intrigued. “Are you going to pee your pants?” I solemnly nod and watch her sprint to the toilet.
She’s not cruel; she’s just a 3-year-old.
“Can I watch Rescue Bots when we get home?” my daughter asks. “Absolutely!” I reply cheerily. “Your sister has piano lessons, and you can catch an episode before we head to the store.” Suddenly, her joy turns to fury as she throws her snack onto the minivan floor. “But I want to watch A LOT OF SHOWS!!!” she screams, eyes wide.
She’s not ungrateful; she’s just a 3-year-old.
“It’s bath time!” I announce while filling the tub. “But I caaaan’t!” my daughter cries. “My knee hurts!”
“Would you like a Band-Aid?” I offer.
“NO! THAT WILL MAKE IT WORSE!” she shouts, clearly unimpressed with my suggestion.
“Should we apply some cream to it?” I ask.
If she could, she’d probably roll her eyes at me. Instead, she sighs dramatically, covering her face. To her, we must be total morons.
She’s not a drama queen; she’s just a 3-year-old.
In the presence of my little threenager, I hardly go a few minutes without encountering her tantrums. She cries over everything from my refusal to let her eat an entire box of organic fruit snacks to her nightlight not being perfectly aligned with her bed. It’s as if she’s perpetually in a mood, finding out that chocolate is now banned and her favorite show has been canceled. Sometimes, I think about sneaking a mood stabilizer into her yogurt.
But then I remind myself: she’s not unbalanced; she’s just a 3-year-old. To be honest, she can be a bit of a handful, but I know this phase won’t last forever.
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In summary, parenting a 3-year-old can be a wild ride filled with ups and downs. While they may act out or seem unreasonable at times, it’s a part of their development. They’re not bad kids; they’re just navigating their emotions and experiences as little ones.