Silje and David’s new favorite game involves them running around the house in a circle, over and over and over again. Silje puts on one of her princess dresses, and purple fuzzy slippers, and runs in front of David. She drops one of the slippers, and David picks it up, running behind her shouting “But wait! I don’t even know your name!” I think we have watched Cinderella a few too many times! He gives her back her slipper when he catches her, and then the game resumes from the beginning.
Although the adjustment to 3 has been pretty seamless so far, David is still going through a difficult stage for us. I say “stage” because that’s what I hope and pray it is! Since we have moved into this house last spring, he seems to destroy most things he comes into contact with. Besides tearing down wallpaper and drawing crayon “roads” on the nice carpet in the living room, he’s breaking toys constantly, both his and Silje’s. He doesn’t seem to be vicious in all of this, he just wants to see what will happen if he does it. It’s almost like you can see his mind thinking, “I wonder what will happen if I pull this hard.” “I wonder how this works.” It’s getting very frustrating. This morning while I was changing Elias, David got ahold of the brand new bottle of baby gas drops, and dumped it all over the kitchen floor. Unfortuantely, since they’re so mild, they don’t have the childproof cap, and I didn’t think to put it up high. Even if he drank the whole tiny bottle that costs $7 he wouldn’t have gotten sick, but it’s still such a waste! I’m sure he just thought “I wonder what’s in here…I wonder how much is in here, I can’t tell…” Lord, please let his great curiosity be part of his sucess one day!
Since he has turned 3 a few months ago, his will has also been shown in full force. Just the other day we were sitting at the dinner table, and he was refusing to eat…again. Knut told him, after trying to get him to eat for quite some time, that if he didn’t take one bite, he would be disciplined. David looked his daddy in the eye and said stubbornly “go ahead and count!” Uff da! Knut’s favorite is David’s phrase that he says often. “Mommy, (or Daddy) you can’t say no…that’s my rules.” I’ve learned not to ask him to do anything without fully preparing myself to enforce that it gets done, because if I ask him to do something and he doesn’t do it, and I don’t have the hands available to make him do it, he grows more defiant at an exponential rate! So I choose my dealings with him carefully! We’re holding our ground as best we can, but I sure hope this is just a phase!
Tony Lombardo says
December 10, 2008 at 2:17 amYou and the Sorensen’s should start a support group. Erick and Melissa’s 3 year old sounds a lot like David. Hey! You don’t think they have speaking to one another do you? I could just hear the conversation:
Jude: Hey David, you know what drives them nut’s?
David: No Jude, what?
Jude: Look them right in the eye and then break something. Then when they say you are going to get a spanking yell NO and hit your Dad.
David: Hit your Dad? Are you sure? That sounds dangerous.
Jude: Nah, don’t worry. Its only scary the first time. The look on their faces makes it worth it.
You know what I will give Erick a call and make sure Jude is staying of the phone.
Seriously, we will continue to pray for you guys. Hang in there.
(If I had kids of my own this is where the advice would be. ;D )
-Tony
Thorson's says
December 18, 2008 at 3:00 amCan I join your support group too?
Oliver just turned 4 today, and he has been that defiant for a long time. I was trying to read Jude and David’s “phone conversation” aloud to Mike, and I was laughing so much I was crying.