When Annabel was in her “terrible twos” and having a bad day behavior-wise, people often told me I was in for a rude awakening because age three would be even worse. Now that Annie is three I must admit there definitely are some new challenges that weren’t there before, but there’s new good stuff, too, which surprised me. I think I was so focused on preparing for her to change for the worse that I didn’t give much thought to how she could change for the better.
My favorite change in Annabel is just how sweet she’s become. That probably sounds silly since she’s always been sweet, but lately she’s been actively doing new sweet things that melt my heart on a daily basis.
Yesterday, for example, I was reading Annie the little “Peter Pan” book that came inside the movie’s DVD case, and she got into it in a way she hadn’t with any other story. When Captain Hook appeared she literally recoiled in fear, and when Peter Pan showed up at the end to save Wendy and the Lost Boys, she squealed with excitement. Seeing Annie lose herself in the story in such an incredible way was awesome to see.
“And then out popped Captain Hook!”
Then there was the birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese last weekend. At our last trip there (a little less than a year ago) Annie was afraid of ol’ Chuck E. and refused to go anywhere near him. This time, though, she ran up to him and waved, wide eyed, while shouting, “Hi Chuck E.! Hi!” over and over. Being the crotchety old man that I am, I couldn’t help but see a teenager in a mouse suit that’s seen much, much better days (seriously, corporate needs to ship out a new mouse suit ASAP). But Annie? She didn’t see that at all. She saw THE Chuck E. Cheese, and the look of awe on her face could bring a smile to the face of even the crotchetiest old man.
Even better than Annie’s face at Chuck E. Cheese? The fact that she’s taken to doing this all of the time:
Maybe my favorite new sweet thing of all? Hearing her in another room talking to her grandma about me. “My Daddy, he took me to get ice cream…”
“My Daddy.”
I don’t know why exactly, but hearing her refer to me as “my daddy” made my heart swell. So sweet.
I was a bit nervous about Annie’s reaching the “terrible threes,” but three is a great age, really. While there will certainly be easier ages to deal with as a parent, they won’t necessarily be better. I’ll take hard and awesome over easy and disappointing any day.
Tracey says:
How adorable. Wait until she is 16 and saying, “My daddy won’t let you take me out in your car, or my daddy says I have to be home at 10 pm!”
DefendUSA says:
Revel in it, man!! I miss the days when they called me “mommy” and now it’s “Mom”. My husband still says, “Talk to Mommy”…I’ll just have to wait for someone to call me “gram”!!
ColleenMN says:
It just gets better and better and better, enjoy!
Editdebs (Debbie A-H) says:
Three-year-olds are the funniest, most fun people on the planet. They are difficult to parent sometimes, but I love that age.
Tia says:
Ages 3, 4 & 5 are hands down my favorite! I really should have been a preschool teacher.
Rebecca says:
For us, the terrible two’s were the first two years of life. After the age of 2 our children both began behaving like sweet children and it’s only gotten better. But those first TWO YEARS! nightmares.
Patt says:
Three is delightful! I had so much fun parenting a three-year-old, especially my youngest. Often, I truly wish I could have frozen him at that age. Enjoy!
Tara says:
How sweet! Our boy just turned 3 too, and I can’t agree more about all of these changes. He’s such a hoot these days. He’s a lot like Annie, getting emotionally involved in stories.
Expat Mom says:
Three is the best age there is, in my opinion. Kids at this age are so amazed by everything, so excited by each little ant and blade of grass they see. It’s awesome. Enjoy, because next comes 7 when they are all, “Oh, PUH-LEASE! You know nothing, you ancient old husk. You’re merely here to serve as my butler.” Or maybe that’s just my 7 year old . . .
Susan says:
I still refer to mine as “my daddy” and I’m 43 and he is 68.
Lindsey says:
Love the leg hug!! Heard of “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck”? Annie’s is “a bushel and a keg, and a hug around the leg”. She melts my heart, too! Did she see her mommy looking like Quasimoto? Hope not! So glad Heather is better.
Heather says:
She didn’t! Luckily she was asleep when it started, and asleep when we got back from the ER. She saw me in the morning but my face looked a million times better (comparatively)!
Glenda says:
She’s daddy’s girl alright! Love the leg hug!
Auntie_M says:
“MY daddy….” sweetest words you’ll ever hear. Until you hear, “My grampa!”