Rough waters

So, I'm going to be perfectly honest here. I've really been struggling with Miss 3 1/2 year old at our house the past couple weeks. She's learned to spell "bat" and now she's driving me absolutely bat-ty.

Fussing has gone to a whole new level. Obeying right away is a distant memory. Using too much toilet paper in the potty and spitting out food. And doing baby things like signing and saying Charlotte's version of words. It's just been rough.

Of course, it's tempered with very sweet moments like singing "The more we get together" with her sister. It isn't all bad.

Anyway, after talking to Kevin and my mom, both figuring that this has to be a phase, I started googling stuff about developmental milestones. I just wanted to hear an expert say that I'm not going bonkers.

Yay, confirmation at this website . The section about "The Wonderful Three Year Old." I hope this post will validate what someone else might be feeling at some point. As for me, I press on with a resolve to be very consistent in discipline while helping Caroline as she tries to become more independent.


"A three-year-old can be lively, affectionate,
cooperative, and good-humored. Around
three-and-a-half, though, she may suddenly become
strong-willed and disagreeable. She may become
emotionally insecure and anxious. She may seem as if
she is trying to go back to being a baby. She may also
become very picky and hard-to-please.

One reason that a three-and-a-half-year-old
becomes rebellious and insecure is that she is moving
towards more independence. She is testing limits to
find out who she is and what she can do. However,
becoming independent is hard work. It can make a
child feel anxious and in need of a lot of
encouragement and comfort.

When your child is going through this difficult
stage, remember that it is just that, a stage. Things
will improve soon. Limit the frequency and duration
of conflicts. Sometimes it is better to overlook certain
behaviors (such as whining) and to let him have his
way once in a while (for example, if he wants to wear
a raggedy pair of pants). In the meantime, it is
important to be calm, patient, and loving with your
child. "