Did I tell you how great four is? Not the number four really but the age. I don't have a four year old YET but in just two short months I will and already I can tell it's going to be a golden year. And that's not just the java shots talking. I'm serious about this theory.
Over the last couple of weeks the boys, whom we shall here forth call the terrible twosome, have ran me completely ragged. I could go into the details but that would redirect the whole purpose of this letter and I'm all about staying on track today people (Iced coffee for breakfast, strawberry banana smoothie for lunch, a vigorous 45 min run and one very tasty V8 later and I'm on fire!! But I digress.)
The point is that while on the one hand my sweet baby boys have morphed into crabby, whiny maddening little people my stubborn, combative, belligerent three year old has transformed into a helpful, creative, funny little person. Not that she wasn't all that to some extent before but as four approaches it seems as though something is just clicking. She finally gets it. Mom is the boss.
She can be the little boss.
There. It's finally settled.
All the pretentious one-upmanship and battling for control that has been the hallmark of her third year is ever so slightly tapering off. Especially since I explained that being a "boss" is not all fun, games, and ordering others around. It involves work. Lots and lots of work. And knocking yourself out to care for others only have them whine, complain and poop in their pants as a big fat thank you!
Here's some evidence to back up my four is fantastic theory: the amount of discipline needed to keep a near four year old in check is very different than with a near three year old. Their impulse control is much better developed plus they can reason through the final conclusion. If I do "A", which is wrong, then "B" will happen. I hate "B" so I'll choose to skip "A" this time.. or until I can figure out a way to get around "B". And there also is the element of fear. Not so much of Mom and Dad, although that can be helpful too, but of bodily harm. They understand danger and bad outcomes and are not as likely to charge through a parking lot or dive head first off kitchen counters. (And I say all of this speaking as the mother of a near four year old girl. I have a feeling boys may still think doing somersaults off the roof is okay well into their 40th year.)
Secondly a near four year is great help around the house. They are energetic, eager to please and can make a game out of anything! Not that my near four year old is slaving away all day but she is able to clean her room (with so attention to detail that I'm always impressed to see what a meticulous job she does), wipe down the table and high chairs, get things from other rooms and turn off the light/fan etc (so that her lazy mother can continue lounging on the floor) and most importantly she is a great baby monitor. The boys can't so much as think about doing something sneaky before all the BIG SISTER alarms are triggered and she is sounding the siren to inform me of their latest shenanigans.
Lastly almost four years olds are fun little people to be around. They are funny, thoughtful, can dream up the craziest notions and games and at times can amaze you with the most insightful, profound observations and ideas that are far beyond their four years. They are actually enjoyable and not in that oh-babies-are-so-cute-to-watch-and-dote-over kind of way. To that point today my near four year old told her first joke. Not that she hasn't tried to make us laugh with slap stick type comedy falling off chairs and tripping on broom sticks but today she understood, internalized and retold her first Knock, Knock joke. It went like this:
Her: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's There?
Her: Banana (tons of giggling)
Me: Banana Who?
Her: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's There?
Her: Banana (hysterical laughter)
Me: Banana Who?
Her: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's There?
Her: Banana (her rolling on the floor laughing)
Me: Banana Who?
This repeated another seven times.
Her: Knock, Knock
Me: Who's There?
Her:Banana (he he he he)
Me:Banana Who?
Her: Orange!!! HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I'd told her the joke first (one of two that I know) and she thought it was hysterical. She loved the play on words (for those of you who don't know the "punch" line is: Orange you glad I didn't say banana- ha!) and tried several times to retell it each time worse and more wrong than the next. But unlike any other time I've heard a Knock, Knock joke this time was an absolute riot!!! Four is definitely going to be a fun year.
