Dear Connor - 3 Years, 4 Months

Dear Connor,

In your world it's always Halloween... but with less candy. Dress up is the most fun of all, second only to playing any game involving monsters, pirates or dragons. I've been a little concerned about the obsession with monsters and things that go bump in the night. Each morning you wake to tell us about the monsters that you saw or played with while you were sleeping.
At your pre-school parent teacher conference, your teacher even mentioned that you are quite obsessed with monsters. She said that she always tells you that there is no such thing as monsters, which is something that we also tell you. At some point along the way, your Dad and I decided that who cares if you are into monsters? What if you grow up to get your PhD in Roman Mythology? Who are we to decide what creatures you invent to play with?

And oh the dressing up. How many clothes can you put on at once? Well, that depends on how many clothes you have access to. In the picture below, you are wearing 7 shirts, a sweater vest, sweater, 5 pair of pants and 6 pair of socks. Oh, and those are pants on your head. You so love the pants on your head that the other day, Tristan toddled over to me with a pair of Diego underwear that he found in your dresser and insisted that I put it on his head... because that's what brother does.

You are maintaining the 3 year old stereotype by making sure that you talk back to Mommy or Daddy at least twice a day. You never know what to say, or how to express yourself so you end up pointing at us and yelling, "I'm going to lock you up in a high tower!" or some other such nonsense, which only proves, it's not actually what is said, but how it's said. Usually there is a time out involved with these infractions, although usually they've occurred because you are angry that you were put into time out for something else to begin with. It's still amusing to see 40 inches of red faced madness, pointing at me while yelling, "I'm going to smash you out of the house!"

You are taking more of an interest in other children. Some of them you like, some of them you don't, but you are proud to announce that this or that child is your best friend. You don't like that child because she always takes toys from your or this child because he whispers when he talks. It's amazing to watch the playgroup politics unfold as you learn to make up games and engage other children in activity running together like a pack of dogs at the park. It's so refreshing for me to watch you play without unfolding drama. The hitting and crying is replaced by, sharing and smiling and when you approach a new child to play, the expression on your face is one of expectation and hope. You look so fragile as you wait for some sign or signal that it's ok to join in play. It's fascinating to watch the buds of social evolution begin to emerge but I want you to know that I'll always be your friend. Even when you are embarrassed to be seen with me in public.
Love,
Mommy