My son is four and three-quarters years old. As we put the baby years behind us and move forward into pre-kindergarten and elementary years, I started writing down what made this age memorable. Here’s another list…

This is the age of:
• Annoying questions (Why can’t I have ice cream before dinner? Why?!)
• Asking him three times before his acknowledgement; asking him five times before his response
• Small steps
• Great accomplishments
• Jumping up & down
• One more time – one more story – one more minute
• Silly faces
• Second chances
• Vague explanations (I’ll tell you when you’re older)
• Exasperation…
• That little whiney voice
• “Stop that!”
• Doing things all by myself
• Self-confidence (child)
• Self-sacrifice (parents)
• Too big to carry
• Scary monsters
• Herculean effort
• “Do you need to go potty?”
• No naps
• No peace
• Running late and wondering why we’re always running late
• “Clean up your mess!”
• Wanting to keep everything (from library books to other children’s toys to worms on the sidewalk)
• Trying to read
• Learning to swim
• Simple requests (I need a hug)
• Sitting in mom’s lap a little longer
• Wandering aimlessly
• Differences between big boys & babies
• Inside voice
• Quiet time
• Holding hands
• Cherished dandelions & clovers picked just—for—you
• “Look mom!”
• Me first
• Insistent requests (can I, pleeeezzeee?)
• Plans for when he’s seven, ten, twelve…
• “Stay here” and “Go away!”
• Six-legged horses and three-wheeled trucks
• Long days - short months
• “It was an ac-cee-dent, mom, don’t worry!”

Time goes by so quickly. Hold on to the quirky moments, revel in the small events, and discard the rest.