The wisdom of three year olds

Luisa said her 3-year old told her after an outting with her older siblings, "There are so many things to love." or some other cutesy awww-inspiring kind of effect.

The SO's niece is now three. She still hasn't decided to speak to anyone. But she still knows how to work her game. Last night when I was sitting at the computer, she would come in, look at me, then run out, constantly. However, when Uncle was there, she would make sure to touch something or pick something up. Cuz she knows Uncle will say, "noooo" then come chase her. This morning, with Uncle away, she doesn't care to touch a thing. I just look at her and think, "you're messing with uncle, aren't you?"

I think she just likes how people react to her, tests the waters to see how far they will jump. Then run off giggling at the results. Last night, she got into experimenting with biting into an orange unpeeled. Her parents were a bit worried, but I stopped them and said, no wait, let's see what kind of face she makes when she realizes orange rind is really bitter. She chewed on the orange zest, but when she hit the white stuff it fell out of her mouth right away.

She seems to prefer physical communication like smacking you to get your attention. This morning, instead of waking mom, she decides auntie might be fun to play with as she crawls up on my bed and crawls over me, pressing her weight into my stomach with palms and knees. She looks at me, seeing if I'm going to get up and play with her. Instead I just roll over and go back to sleep. She makes continued quiet attempts for me to join her in the early morning. Too bad Auntie is not a morning person. Then her mom wakes up and drags her off of my bed. She hasn't quite figured out what will make me jump yet.

But she knows I've figured out a few of her games. Sitting in a metal high chair at a restaurant she decides to entertain herself by kicking the metal frame creating tons of noise. Telling her to stop doesn't work, but taking away her shoes does. Kicking hurts when you don't have shoes. She spends the rest of the evening staring and observing other restaurant patrons.

I wonder what I will be like when I have kids. If I can retain this demeanor. The SO already sees the layers of hair ready to be lost to fret and worry. Though I'm sure he'll have a trim figure running after them. Kids will always test your boundaries, see what they can get away with, with whom. I've watched a generation of cousins do the same exact things to their parents. I'm the auntie/cousin that can't be scammed so easily. But I'm sure my own kids will make their attempts to get one past mom, I wouldn't expect it any other way.