four year old | 4 little Fergusons

This post 2 for the day, make sure you don’t miss post one:

Orange Cream Cheese Brownies. YUM!

You know how people always talk about the Terrible Two’s?

Yeah, our kids skip that and save it all up for the “TRYING THREE’S”.

The sweet angelic babies of days gone by, take a temporary leave of absence.

And in their place?

These volatile little people that get set off at the TEENIEST thing!

We have a method we use for these Trying Three’s called:

“You Have 2 Choices”.

(Brilliant name, I know.)

This allows our 3 year olds to feel like they have a bit of say in their out of control worlds, while still allowing us, ultimate control. {Muahaha MUAHAHAHA!}

No really, all laughing aside, I am dead serious about this, every single blessed one of our kids has gone through this stage and it’s tough people. It makes me weary just writing about it.

“Avery Lyn! You have 2 choices…..”

“(Pointing to index finger) You may stop crying and play with us. OR (pointing to middle finger) you may continue this crying fit in your room alone. Which do you choose?”

This is a tough decision…….

But, they tend to pick number one and then proceed to shut it off.

On the occasion that they cannot get it under control, they are then removed to their room where they sit on their “Boo-Hoo Bed” until they are ready to turn off the water works and be happy.

This has worked very, very well for us! And hey, it works for clothing too!
“Avery, do you want to wear your black leggings or pink leggings with your sweatshirt today?”

She thinks she is choosing for herself, but she is just safely choosing within the boundaries we have set up for her. It’s worked like a charm around here!

Now someone, PLEASE tell me what to do about FOUR:

Freaking
Out
Unnecessarily under
Routine circumstances.