Completely Normal Power Struggle Angst

Our small boy, grandson, darling child, is three. Every parent, nanny, grandparent knows....a three year old is adorable, expressive, demanding, bossy, stubborn, full of -    

            I want to do it       
                         MYSELF! 

- and wails of  "'Dis is mine!" or "Yeave me a-yone; I haff to do my werk!" 

One minute a 3yr old is high-fiving after success on the potty, or wanting to snuggle with you, and the next minute defiant
and hauling back an arm to hit some one or some thing. 

In the midst of all this completely-normal-power-struggle angst, they throw out endearing expressions that melt your heart and make you want to hug them forever. (If they'd let you!)

Yesterday, after lunch, I sang this ditty to my grandson when he stubbornly refused to finish his milk: 


 
        "Drink your milk and drink it all 
          then you will grow strong and tall." 

 Songs often change a toddler's disposition, (and mine, to be honest) especially my song-loving grandson. Thankfully, I know a song for almost every mood or situation. Surprisingly, the milk music ditty didn't work, so I upped the ante by name dropping. And whisper singing the sneaky addition. Whispering usually works for me too. 

            "Drink your milk and drink it all,
              then you will grow strong and tall.....like Avery."


Mentioning Avery, the older, stronger, longest admired cousin really got the small boy's attention.  He picked up the glass, put it to his lips, but didn't drink.                




I had to go higher on the power and adoration chain. And use the opposite of whispering. It's all about timing, sound, facial expressions....drama, in other words. Drama is  EVERYTHING  to a toddler. 

              "Drink your milk and drink it all,
              then you will grow strong and tall.....LIKE PAP!!!"

Notice I didn't say Papaw, my husband, and the man across the table from Jude. Absence does truly make the heart grow fonder when it comes to grandparents. 

BINGO!!  Small boy downed his milk in breathless, gulping 
swallows.  After coming up for air, and with a ginormous
milk mustache, he exclaimed,

        "Oh yeah, becuz, Pap is WAY miles BIG!!"