“Don’t argue with a four year old. Just don’t. They’ll out-do you any day and if they don’t have the words or a sound argument, they’ll just keep asking ‘why’.”*
As my baby (the first one!) reaches his 5th birthday – yeah 5! Where did that go? – I’m feeling a bit reflective. So much has happened over the last 5 years but I have to say this last year has been one of my favourites:
My boy is wonderful, obviously I would say that because I’m his Mother, but he really is. I love being the Mama of a 4 year old boy. It helps that he sleeps very well these days, other than the midnight toilet trip and occasional bad dream, but this age is just so precious and innocent and full of wonder and curiosity that it makes me view life in a whole new way. I love seeing the world through his eyes.
Don’t get me wrong he has his moments!! Stubborn like his Mama. If I get asked to watch another Batman versus Lightning McQueen youtube video I may scream and the fussy eating I could definitely live without.
Every experience he has is almost exaggerated and whilst this might mean a few overdramatic responses to bumps and scrapes (or his little brother playing with one of his toys!) sometimes it also means you can genuinely see his joy magnified in everything he does. A playground is like Disneyworld to him, the local swimming pool is as good as the biggest water park in the world. He appreciates everything he has and I love that about him. His excitement when he receives something new or goes to an indoor playroom for the first time is wonderful and the look on his face when he feels like that is precious.
He is a very lucky boy. The first Grandchild on both sides with doting Uncles, Aunts and Great-Grandparents so he doesn’t want for much anyway but Christmas was an extra special affair this year. The first time I felt like he really understood everything that was going on. The first time he got really excited about Christ Kind and Santa Claus and had something to believe in. When he walked into the lounge and saw the presents he was so overwhelmed it brought tears to all of our eyes. But what I loved most about it was how genuinely appreciative he was of every present he had, taking time to play with everything he opened rather than just ripping through the paper and moving onto the next thing as quickly as possible (hence it took about 4 days to get through everything!)
I watched a video on youtube recently of children in a home in Africa opening care packages that had been sent from the UK. What to so many of us are simple gifts – crayons, books, small cars, bubbles – yet their reactions of excitement and sheer happiness was incredible. It was a humbling thing to watch, a reminder that we often take what we have for granted, but watching my son experience these moments for the first time is just as humbling. His reactions and sense of wonder are also magical and I just hope I can teach him to always appreciate things like that (though I sense that will become harder in time.)
Like his Mum he is pretty shy, especially in new situations or around people he doesn’t know so well, but I’m proud to say he is one of the most popular children at kindergarten and I often feel like a celebrity when I pick him up: “So you’re LJ’s Mum, —– talks about him constantly!”
And one thing we have always prided ourselves on with him-the one thing I felt we got right!-is how polite and well-mannered he (usually) is. Here in Austria people laugh when he says ‘Ja, bitte’ or ‘Nein, Danke’ because the literal translation from Yes, please and No, thank you is not used in the same way as such but for me the important thing is that the words are said. Yes we still have to remind him sometimes but generally he does it himself and I always have to smile when I say thank you to him and get a ‘you’re welcome’ in return.
In general the conversations we have now are so much more in depth and fun. His speech may not be quite what it ought by this stage but I personally am in awe of how he switches between English and German and translates things for me. And how he knows who he should speak which language with. How he can choose whether to watch a film in English or Deutsch.
I even love our arguments! Children are just so open and honest and say it how it is. Arguing with a 4 year old is hilarious and trying to keep a straight face when he gets annoyed or angry with me is pretty hard sometimes.
The running commentary about everything he does – including announcing at the top of his voice every time he goes to the toilet – is equally amusing. If a little unnecessary at times!! But Mr LJ is the boss in our house and without his voice our house would be pretty quiet and lonely.
I love our little in-jokes and when we play tricks on each other. But my absolute favourite at the moment, the one that melts my heart is our I love you chat usually reserved for bedtimes and goodbyes-
I love you LJ
I love you Mama
I love you more
I love you more
I love you the most
I love you the mostest
It changes order and has extra mores and mosts sometimes but we always agree in the end to love each other the same (although I’m pretty sure I’ll always love him a bit more!)
The funniest thing was when we watched Tangled one day (another favourite pastime when we snuggle up on the sofa with popcorn and watch a Disney film) and they say the same thing! LJ was like ‘Hey! That’s what we say!’
Life with LJ is like living in a musical! Explosive and dramatic sometimes with mini-tantrums and crying for stupid reasons (usually because I tell him his iPad time is up!) but he’s so happy the next, making up stories and acting out scenes from Arlo and Spot and singing constantly! He loves singing and honestly, whilst by the 5th refrain of Mummy Finger where are You? I want to go on Amazon and immediately purchase the most expensive ear plugs I can find with next day delivery, I love listening to him. To me singing people are happy people and really that’s all I ever want him to be.
There’s been lots of new adventures and things to learn this year – riding bikes, swimming, gym classes, starting to write his name – and whilst there are areas we have stumbled on and some we need some extra help with I am proud of everything he has achieved so far and take such joy in the excitement he shows by his accomplishments. I am so looking forward to the year ahead.
If you are reading this and thinking that doesn’t sound like my 4 year old or mine has been doing that for years, well, you’d probably be right. LJ isn’t like any other 4 year old. But that’s a good thing because it is the differences between our 4 year olds that make them, them.
So I wouldn’t change a thing about my boy. My wonderful, handsome, quirky, funny, newly turned 5 year old boy. Who I love more, than more just the way he is.
Happy Birthday LJ!
Sweet Dreams –
Mama Atzi x
*excerpt taken from – http://www.heysigmund.com/developmental-stage/
