Fabulous Fours!

Small recently turned 4.  PHEWF!!  I've been waiting for the 3s to be over! Smokes, that was a tough haul!!  Sure, he was cute and cuddly and adorable...but he was also a disaster when he didn't get his way....OFTEN!!

If I hear the word, NO yelled at me once more...!!!  Well, I can't finish that sentence because it's probably not legal...and besides, I was saturated with it by 3pm today so it's not like it just magically disappeared when he turned 4.

But, the 2 hour tantrums and hissy fits have definitely subsided and MAN!! Is that ever a relief!!!

The best part, though, is that he WANTS to be a big boy and he WANTS to act like a 4 year old.  It's like a little piece of heaven to have something to dangle over his head...

Case in point:

The other day, he was flat out refusing to eat dinner.  No problem.  Go to bed hungry.  It's not a new one for me!

He didn't get the answer he wanted so he gave me the full on stink eye, arms folded, shoulder shrug, 'I'M NOT GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAY!  HARUMPH!!!"  followed by the chuck of the plate across the table.

<sigh>  Back to square 3 year old!

So I responded with a not as awesome stink eye, arms folded, shoulder shrug, "THAT'S WHAT 3 YEAR OLDS DO!!  FOUR YEAR OLDS EAT THEIR DINNER!  HARUMPH!!"

And I waited....

And I waited...

And I waited...

The whole time, I could see that little brain ticking.....and slowly....very slowly....the stink eye (which I have to say, this kid has PERFECTED!!!!), loosened up....the arms started to unfold....and he said,

"Ok, I'll eat my dinner!"

And he did!!  Every last bit of it!!

Trust me, I'll be using the 4 year old status quo Every. Chance. I. Get!!!!  Survival of the fittest, baby!