Threes

I must say I am really enjoying my 3-year-old at the moment. Sure it’s a trying period but there are so many positives I’ve noticed recently that I just want to mention them.

Katie has such boundless energy and loves to please. She has a mischievous streak though and a great sense of humour. She will not sit still and is showing wonderful imagination. She’s able to concentrate for longer periods absorbed in drawing or whatever is holding her attention at the moment. She enjoys attention, can pose and asks a lot of questions. She can make friends with anyone and knows exactly how to be herself. Really there’s a lot I can learn from here.

One thing she will always be is Daddy’s girl. She squeals in delight when he comes home and loves to romp about with him. Sometimes I get a tinge of jealousy but mostly I’m glad I can get those much-needed breaks when he’s around.

The other day the two were about to go to Bunnings and Daddy was helping put on Katie’s jumper. It was on except her arms were not in the armholes and she couldn’t free them. He thought he would leave her like that for a while since it looked so funny. They were mucking about and suddenly Katie tripped and she fell straight on her face onto the floor tiles. There was a long howl and after peeling her off the ground we saw she had a swollen lip and some blood. It took us a while to realise she had also chipped a tooth in the process. A good chunk of her left top front tooth was completely gone. I found the piece and stared at it in disbelief. It was never something I envisaged would happen. Actually I realised afterward it’s a very common incident that happens in this age group and I suppose it’s a good enough reason we have baby teeth.

It didn’t stop her from wanting to go to Bunnings with Daddy though. On their return we had a fish and chips dinner as a treat which for the first time she couldn’t finish as it was too painful. We ended up feeding her by sticking food in her back teeth. Later she stood in front of the mirror and saw what was left of her tooth. I held my breath ready for a bad reaction. She only stared for a bit and then asked to play on the piano.

Yes I love this age – the way they don’t dwell on things that seem significant to us, the way they can move on, be flexible and take change so well. They couldn’t give a hoot about their appearance. Okay, maybe I’m just feeling really sorry for my girl and remembering her good traits is really easy. If only I can remember them when she’s naughty.