57 sentiments shared

Love, love you do.

“What shall I do today?”

She thought as she brushed her hair a thousand times.

“I will put on the pink dress with the tiny white dots.

I will dust the furniture and teach the cat to fetch…”

And just then, a strange wind pried open her bedroom window

and she suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to spin and howl,

to jump on her freshly made bed with her eyes shut tight.

In other words, she was on the brink of a new discovery…

- Monique Duval

I’m at the mercy of the three year old and she hasn’t been gentle with me lately.  She speaks a foreign language, it seems.   Just because she says quite clearly and repeatedly that she wants strawberries/a red pen/The Little Mermaid/a shower, it doesn’t mean she actually does.  It could actually mean that if I do in fact obey any given command, we may find ourselves in the midst of a rather frightening toddler meltdown, with face to the floor and much wailing and gnashing.    This may or may not happen once every twenty three minutes, just to keep things interesting.  Oh, and should we be in public view,  she likes to increase the volume of the meltdown so others can enjoy the show.

I remember these very same days with Ava.  While she was a little less vocal than Ivy, she was still working hard at testing her limits and my sanity at times.  I complained back then.  I declared I hated three.  I said I was counting the seconds until she was five.   Oh, to be able to experience Ava’s three again..All the tantrums and hysteria, the never-ending questions, the pesting, the irrational demands.   On the brink of a new discovery.

Saying this, today happened to be a particularly challenging day.  One that required lots and lots of extra gratitude to prevent me faking my own disappearance.  Come bedtime,  it took every little last bit of whatever it is we mothers survive on to tuck in not only Ivy but the crocheted cat, the pink giraffe and the bear in a tutu. Three times over.  I think she sensed my fading enthusiasm and as I leaned over to  pat them all one last good night, she reached up, put her arms around my neck and whispered “I love you, my darling“.  And just like that, all is forgiven.  They’re very clever, the toddlers of today.

I like the Monique Duval quote.  It reminds me that while it’s fine to want everything in it’s place, there’s also much to celebrate about the messy, the noisy and the unexpected.  Amidst the frequent yearning for the perfectly pleasant Ivy, I’m pretty grateful for the spinning and howling Ivy too.

Sheye x

1. Cherie Shields says:

   Ivy just looks terribly gorgeous in that photo. Having met the darling in person I now can understand a bit of your world with Ivish. I must admit I now get all misty eyed about 3 years old when my wild little toddler turned into a little boy when I wasn’t looking. Declan wants to thank the boys for an awesome time on Sunday. We will have to come for another proper visit soon. By that point I’m really hoping we’ll have some wonderful news to share (one can hope!) Was lovely seeing you all again and try not to work too hard.

   
2. Cheri says:

   I can SO relate! My “Sweetie Pie” is 3.5 and what a handful! Last night she wanted “Shicken Nuggets” for dinner. The nicely warmed chicken arrived on her plate. She stared at it a moment, and then roared, “I asked for NOODLES!” Ah, life with toddler! It helps to dress them so they at least look sweet. ;) Have you looked at Chasing Fireflies? They have an online store as well as a catalog. I think you might like them. :D

   
3. kristi says:

   Three is the new two!

   
4. Alissa says:

   That picture is unbelievably gorgeous!!!

   
5. Amie Liz says:

   Thank you so much for the reminder to enjoy even the wild, stubborn parts of our little ones. My little Rylan has been known to actually turn blue and pass out in the middle of a meldown! But the sweetness and love is just as intense too. All of the recent pictures of Ivy have been absolutely beautiful. such a treasure.

   
6. Fiona Carson says:

   It seems my 4 year old is a slow starter. He has been throwing the mightiest of tantrums lately. Throwing-himself-against-the-door kind of tantrums. I-never-get-anything-ever tantrums. And in the blink of an eye, when I’m exhausted, and tired and about to yell and scream and throw a tantrum of my very own, he turns to me and says “Mummy, you look so beautiful today. I love that white shirt on you. My white-shirt-princess”. *sigh*

   ps, went to carousel cupcakes for the very first time over the weekend. oh. my. god. cupcake sundae.

   
7. karen says:

   thank you so much for this post, i needed to hear it and i know that He led me here to find you for a reason…