Take It to the Limit

There should be a special reward for parents with kids from the ages of, oh, say two to four.  Because as I've discussed before, the evolving behavioral challenges of the early years don't end with the so-called "terrible twos."  In fact, I found age 2 to be much easier than age 3 is proving to be thus far.

Anna is smarter now, so she's better able to argue and attempt to cajole her way into whatever she wants. She's also developing her own strong-willed personality (which, I think, is hereditary). While I'm glad that this means she will probably become a confident, assertive woman.....it makes the early limit-testing just a wee bit difficult to handle.

Okay, more than a "wee" bit. Sometimes I feel a little nuts.

The Process of Becoming

She looks at me with that teasing twinkle in her eye, which I know is a reflection of my own.  She dares me to “get” her as she halfheartedly begins to run, only to stop after a few steps so that I will catch her and tickle her.

I know her as well as I know myself, yet I also know she is evolving, growing, daily engaged in the process of becoming.

Self-portrait!