I've come to the conclusion that everybody has a hang up about age. Either you're too old or too young, but you are never happy with your own. Adults want to be younger and kids want to be older. Kids are just more short-sighted about how old they want to be. For example, Sarah wants to be old enough to sit in a booster seat, but doesn't care about anything past that. Andy wants to be old enough to sit in a seat belt (without a booster seat) and maybe sit in the front seat, but can't think past that shotgun spot. I knew a guy in high school that made a fake ID that said he was 17. Why? So he could get into R-rated movies. Forget buying alcohol, I can go see some great flicks.
Lately, Sarah has been obsessed with her birthday and turning four. It started around Andy's birthday. Pretty much we all get excited about Andy's birthday and then Sarah can't stop talking about hers. For the next three months. If her birthday was in October it would be the same thing just longer. Once you have one birthday in the family you can't stop talking about the next one until it's over. Then they are quiet about birthdays again until Andy's comes around the next year. It also didn't help that her best friend, Helena, already turned four. Coincidentally it was two days before Andy's birthday. The day, seriously that day, Helena turned four I actually heard her say to Sarah, "sorry, Sarah, but this is only for four-year-olds". Are you kidding me? You've been four for what, 12 hours? My jaw just dropped. But that's how it is, age is everything to little kids and it gives them a leg up.
Because turning four is so important to Sarah, I keep telling her that she needs to start acting like a four year old. You know, "you're about to turn four, and four-year-olds don't act that way". It's the kind of stuff your parents used to tell you that you swore you would NEVER say to your kids. Now I get it. So did you know that four-year-olds don't whine, never wet their pants, and don't tattle? At least that's what I tell her. They live to a very high standard.
It's funny, because usually parents don't want their kids to grow up. It goes so fast and you want to hold on to every stage and make it last just a little bit longer. You don't want them to stop saying things like exsnooze me (excuse me) or Smesame Street. You don't want them to stop holding your hand or hugging you or giving you giant kisses. But with Sarah, I'm ready. Three has been very difficult. Maybe because of the pregnancy and baby, maybe because of her personality, maybe because she's a girl. Maybe just because three is hard. It was hard with Andy and doubly hard with Sarah. All I know is I'm ready for four. Bring it on!
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