Life with a 3-Year-Old

Alright world, we officially have a threenager. I never understood that term up until a few weeks ago when Arielle suddenly became a little girl. What happened to the toddler I knew? What happened to my little baby? 

I’ve been sharing updates on her new skills every few months (check out “Life with a 20-Month-Old,” “Life with an 18-Month-Old,” “Life with a One-Year-Old,” “Life with a 16-Month-Old,” and “Life with a 2-Year-Old” ) and it’s just so mind-blowing how she is growing up so fast. Here are just a few magical developments that we’re enjoying as we learn to navigate life with a 3-year-old.

She is incredibly in tune with the emotions of others …

… to a point where I am in awe. As an empath, I have always been able to pick up on the feelings and emotions of others, no matter how hard they may be trying to hide them. She shows the same ability and she’s only 3. And what’s more, she knows just how to react. If someone is sad, she will do everything she can to make them feel happy. If they’re sick, she will be their little nurse. When I was having a particularly rough night a few months back, she actually said to me out of the blue, “It will be okay, Mama.” Needless to say, her kindness knows no bounds and we could all take a lesson from her in how to treat others. 

Her Birthday is just as fun as mine …

… which is seriously saying something as up until she was born my birthday was my favorite day of the year. This was the first time that she was really aware of her birthday. She kept informing us that, “my birthday is coming up soon” for like a month before it actually happened on May 27. I won’t lie, this behavior had me jumping for joy because I am a HUGE birthday fan and will celebrate mine all month long – it’s in August by the way. Typical Leo.  

She has some varied interests …

… From Encanto to Psych, from Mickey to Olaf, from Lilo & Stitch to E.T., Arielle is all over the place when it comes to her favorite shows. She also loves to blow bubbles, water the flowers, bake and play any musical instrument she can get her hands on, her favorite being the “lylaphone” (xylophone) that my uncle gave her for her birthday. She also is in love with her new Arendelle play castle and driving her new princess Vespa from her godparents around the yard. Though she is not a huge fan of bugs or dirt, she does love attending her nature class weekly with Miss Erika who has become one of her favorite people.  

She’s started calling me her best friend … 

…. And every time she does I turn into a puddle of emotions. I’ve always had a great relationship with my mom, who is a single parent, so I didn’t know what my relationship would be like with Arielle as she comes from a happy, functioning 2-parent home. I’m so lucky that she has a great relationship with both Alex and me. She’s definitely Daddy’s Little Girl, but she’s also Mama’s Mini. And though I know someday she may not want to hang out with us like she does now, I am going to enjoy every second of her attention and love.  

Usually I am able to pick out four main things to share, however this time it was hard for me to narrow it down because so much is going on in her head. I love it all! It has been an amazing 3 years and I can’t even imagine what to expect over the next few months!