1) No matter how hard you try, you never can make his food right. Either he wanted the bread for his sandwich toasted or didn't want the jelly, or he wanted it cut in 2 pieces not 4 or he wanted more sauce or less. It doesn't matter, it's not right! Also, if he cannot get the food to sit properly on the fork/spoon in order to get him the bite he wants, everyone in the room knows about it.
2) Coloring is an art and very precise, not just scribbling. He gets extremely frustrated if he cannot make what is in his head translate to paper. You will often see him throwing a paper/pencil to the floor out of frustration. If he is told, "it looks great! You did a great job!". He will tell you how wrong you are and why the picture is not correct.
3) When playing with a ball outside, it is always your fault when he doesn't catch or hit the ball. You should be standing a different way or throwing higher or lower or you are supposed to do some specific type of move before you throw.
4) He can ask the same question every day, receive the same response every day and yet ask again the next.
5)When playing with toys, there are very detailed rules on how to play. Of course, blocks should be built symmetrically and dinosaurs should stand at attention in a line. He has a very difficult time when he has spent 30 minutes building his masterpiece and another 3 year old comes by and knocks it all down!
Well, in case you haven't figured out who I am talking about, this would be my one and only son. I should probably list a few disclaimers about my parenting as well (so as to avoid the parenting advice I'm sure will be coming in the comments).
I am not a parent who will cater to my children's every little whim.
If he doesn't like the way I made his food, I DO NOT fix it. If he complains, he leaves the table.
If he complains about the way I am playing with or reading to him, I stop.
I teach him that the best part about building something is getting to knock it down.
It's a good thing he is so darn cute!! He also is the biggest love bug and his dimple makes me smile every time. I mean, really, look at the picture... don't you just want to give him the biggest kiss ever?!!
20 comments:
He sounds like a normal male to me. I wonder what 3 year old always knocks over his blocks?
He's cute as a bug's ear!
Love the post and like the reply from Jess, does she own the 3 year old?!
The photo is great and he looks really nice.
Do you guys celebrate St Patrick's Day where you live? Sadly there is a lot of drinking involved with St Patrick's day over here but we love the parades. I was at a few in Dublin City when I used to live there and they were huge, but not compared to New Your (or so I hear)
You have a lovely boy and who would dare to give advice or question any mother trying to bring up kids? (not a wise person anyway!)
God bless.
Ruth
Those are the cutest dimples! He sounds like a typical boy to me--all of my boys liked to "line" up their stuff at that age--weird I know! But my five yearold still does it. Just last week he had lines up in neat little rows all of our pencils.
Then thru a fit when the 10 month old crawled thru it!
I'd give him a big smoochie! Dimples trump OCD!
I love reading your blog...thanks for sharing. I have to comment that I bet you feel the same way I do somedays - parenting sure did look easier before you had kids. I know I feel that way. He is an adorable kid and I am sure you love him - quirks and all... just like I do mine.
Frugal Carol
He's such a cutie pie! Makes me wonder what Noah's gonna be like :)
I could have written this post about my one and only son, Caleb. Just to let you know it hasn't gotten any better, mine is now 8 and still very much OCD. Maybe it's just maleness. Was/is yours obsessed with vacuum cleaners by any chance? Hee Hee
Ruth,
Yes, she Jess does own one of those pesky 3 year olds that always messes up his blocks.
Carol,
I completely agree! I actually thought I was totally prepared because I've always loved kids and babysat. I was in for a rude awakening.
Angie,
I don't think he is obsessed with vacuum cleaners. Although, he is convinced that the duster (my vacuum has one attached on the side) is a sword.
I guess I can conclude that he is not the only OCD boy in the world. Apparently it is more common than I thought.
Josh still lines up his cars and he is 11. When I see your boy at church his dimples make me smile too!!!
Dianna
I have 4 children. 2 of them (1 boy, 1 girl) are exactly as you described. I remember when my son was little (he's 10 now) he would have a fit if his Power Rangers arms moved from how they were positioned in the box! LOL! It gets better. My 10 yr old has out grown it...I'll be glad when my 4 yr old does ;-)
Awww, he is adorable! I think it's important to teach kids early otherwise they turn out to have similar unlikeable behaviors as adults which isn't as cute. :D
Oh, he is precious!
My 3 year old boy is also very particular SO much.
Maybe it is something they grow out of. A mommy can only hope, right?
Oh, he is so cute Cassie! Those boys sure do get our hearts!! It sounds like we have three year old boys with similar traits even though we are much different moms...I would tend to make the sandwich over or read differently...not a good trait of mine!! :) Maybe it is not all my fault...he just comes by some stuff naturally! Christie
Hey.. I know a 3 year old like this! My youngest son is so similar... he's also the youngest of 4. My 6 year old is completely different, but has his own quirks, lol.
He's adorable!
He is so adorable!! My ds who is 10 is also OCD. I remember when he was 3 and couldn't have ice cream for snack...he cried and cried and wouldn't forget about it. He would only wear one kind of shorts (still is that way), and is scared of aliens. Won't go in a room alone!!
We have them for such a short time, I try to just enjoy!!
Love your blog and your way with words.
Oh my Gosh, my 4 year old is exactly like he is. I am so scared that if he does not break out of this behavior he is going to be a very sad and miserable person. I , like you, do not give into his request which causes World War 3 and usually he ends up freaking out throwing a fit and getting in serious trouble.
What do you do? Are you just counting on consistancy to help change his behavior or is their more we can do as parents to help this get fixed before it is too late????
Maria,
I'm a pretty firm believer in consistency, consistency, consistency. I also LOVE the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" (I'm reading it again right now). I try to get to heart root of the problem (ungratefulness and selfishness) and address that as well. I am hoping that as he gets older, he will become mature enough to grow out of some of these habits. Some, I am sure will last a lifetime. I mean my husband has some OCD qualities that drive me crazy now :) I'm sure he could say the same about me.
Aaah, so refreshing to find your post. My three year old is crazy particular about EVERYTHING... and Mommy just can't seem to ever get it right. Here's to hopes that they outgrow these things. My mantra...
"it's just a stage...
it's just a stage...
it's just a stage.."
He certainly is a cutie!
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