I haven’t been feeling like myself the past couple of days. Turns out my hypokalemia is rearing its ugly little head again, shaking a fist and glaring at me.
But it turns out I have far bigger problems to address than some weird chemical imbalance that’s over-stressing my ticker.
Amy will turn 4 years old in 10 days. And she’s taken a very strong anti-aging stance.
Amy, about 6 months
Last week, as Amy and I were leaving school from a visit to Kate’s classroom, I asked her how she liked all the interesting things in Mrs. W’s (Kate’s teacher) room. She didn’t like anything, she told me. ” Nothin’.” As I pressed her for details, she told me she doesn’t want to grow up, that in fact she’s planning on staying three FOREVER. Luckily we’d made it into our vehicle at that point, because she was crying and yelling quite loudly.
I suggested that she really wouldn’t want to miss birthday cake and blowing out candles, right? She attempted to negotiate: she’d take the presents, didn’t need a cake, and didn’t care one way or another if there was a party.
Amy, about 1 year old
While most children would forget their transient moments of insanity, well, Amy’s not “most children.” She’s as stubborn as she is smart, and I don’t want to sound like one of those moms who thinks her kids fart glitter or something, but this kid is really, REALLY smart. Ergo, she’s really, REALLY stubborn. She clings to insanity like it’s her birthright or something. OK, well, maybe it is, but geez, where’s the instinct to evolve????
This theme has been quite consistent since that first discussion. Oh, who am I fooling? It was more of a proclamation than any sort of discussion. But she mentions several times a day that she’s NOT turning 4, and not growing up. And with her bionic-like power of concentration, she’s been quite effective at completely ignoring any humor or logic I’ve introduced on this topic to this point.
So while I pop potassium pills the size of extra-large jelly beans (and SOOOOO not tasty), I must reflect on what this aversion to growing up means for me, her mother, whose sole job is to prepare her for the world and then boot her out into it. Because if she’s thinking that she’s going to cling to her blankie, Snoozers (her teddy bear), and me for the rest of her life, I’d better have a few contingency plans lined up. I realize it’s a little early for her to grasp the concept that she’s on a serious count-down schedule here, and that in about 14 ½ years that she’ll be launching – End Of Story. (Well, really beginning of her story, but she can’t possibly understand that just yet.)
Amy, Nearly 3 years old
Perhaps as I take my blood pressure for the umpteenth time today, a strategy for helping her cope with the inevitable will magically come to me.
Yeah, I don’t think that’s too likely, either.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
My little sweetie. I can’t believe she is going to be 4!!!
I hope you are feeling better. and as I am sure you know . . . this phase/wish/idea too, will pass.
Ava is on the other end of the spectrum, she WANTS TO BE FIVE NOW! This too shall pass.
You could just lie and tell her that her birthday is tomorrow and get it over with.
Then you wouldn’t have to put up with her not wanting to be 4 for the next week.
I’m not sure what is more entertaining–your writing ability or Amy’s stubborn streak. You had me laughing right out loud. I’m pretty sure that she will enjoy presents and cake, oh and maybe a birthday tiara.
Hope you are feeling better. Is there a link to eating too many apples and your potassium problem:)
It’s really in the genes. Aunty C, and Aunty DJ never got any older than 30, so why should Amy get any older than 3.
Often times when children fear their birthday, they have some preconceived notion/fear about what it means to turn that age, for example, to turn 4. Maybe have a conversation with her about what it means to be 4, in her eyes. Have her draw a picture of her when she is 3 and another of her at 4. Note the differences. I’m sure there is something there that you can clear up. Maybe she thinks at 4 she can’t have her teddy bear anymore. Maybe someone at school told her that at 4 you can’t hold your mom’s hand anymore. Who knows, but it’s worth exploring because obviously it’s bothering her.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any further questions.
~Em