An Old Post Worth Reading Again

I wrote this blog last spring of 2007 and posted it to my myspace page. I just reread it and realized how it really just hits home again and again. As we get within days of Anna's 4th birthday it makes me contemplate what this year will bring for her and our family! We have been so fortunate to have a fairly easy baby and toddler but definitely not without those phases we wish we didn't have to go through. But then I read this again and see that it is all worth it in the end. That we need to go through those phases to get to where we are today!

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When we became parents we knew that there would be days that we would be pulling our hair out and at a loss for what to do. Overall the first 3 years of Anna's life were pretty easy. She was a good baby and the 2's came and went without many sleepless nights. And then January 12, 2007 came and Anna turned 3!

I had heard that the 3's were worse than the 2's, especially for girls. I think they were right. Anna is 3 going on 13. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate her independence and love for life. What I don't appreciate is the crying, whining and blatant disregard for the rules we worked so hard to instill. I keep telling myself that this is a phase that we will get through like every other one we have gone through. But this one is different. I am realizing that how we parent now may have a direct impact on the rest of her life. Ok, maybe I am placing too much weight on my influence but it is a scary thought.

The independence Anna displays is at times refreshing and at times frustrating. Not a day passes that we don't here, "I can do it myself!" I am proud that we raised a little 3 year old that feels comfortable enough on her own or with our help! That brings me to the point of this blog -

I got home this evening after a wonderful dinner and book discussion with my husband to find out that Anna is sick. Her independence is thrown out the window. She needs her mommy and daddy again. She needs me to rub her back and hold the bucket and pull her hair back all with my three hands. She still shows me what a strong little girl she is by acting like throwing up is nothing and can continue on with whatever conversation we were having before the bucket came out again. But I am reminded through all of this that she is still just a three year old that relies on us to take care of her and to be honest that feels good. Tonight I don't feel like I am losing my little girl to her independent spirit.

So, my point is that even though we have our rough nights and days that I am in tears wondering what I have done wrong, I realize that it is part of growing up - both for Anna and for me as a parent. I am realizing that these formative years are so important and I just have to stay strong and realize that on the other side of this phase is another one that we will wonder how we will get through it. And maybe we should save the fretting for when Anna is 13 going on 30!

Tina