Lessons learned from an almost 3-year-old

One afternoon this last weekend I decided to run to the store and get some of my Christmas shopping done. Leaving the sleeping 1 year old (Ms. Drama) and the baby in my hubby’s care, I went out into the freezing cold, and since my almost 3 year old (Ms. Action) refuses to nap, I took her with me to the store.

We have to park all the way at the end of the parking lot (how can every space be full?) and run to the building squealing “its cold!” the whole way. Once we are inside we stop to take off our mittens, hats and scarves and put them in our very own pockets (pockets are thrilling to a 3 year old).

I feel almost like a normal mom walking through the store with just one toddler, it’s a strange feeling. I keep catching myself thinking I’ve forgotten somebody. Eventually I relax and get into the rhythm of shopping (with what seemed like millions of other people!)

We wander through the mall, popping into a store here and there whenever I notice one with hats. My hubby really needs a hat upgrade. The thrift store special from last year isn’t really thick enough, and it doesn’t protect his ears sufficiently from the -40 wind-chills we get up here.

We can’t find a hat that looks big enough for a full grown man (whats with all the tiny hats?) and I end up in Sears looking through the socks (which he also needs and happen to be on sale). I like to shop in thrift stores, but for socks and underwear (and maybe hats) I still buy new. While I sort through the messy piles of clothing I watch Ms. Action run in circles around a rack of robes, “It’s jammies mama! It’s jammies!” she says excitedly.

We look at slippers for Daddy next, I can’t find any that I like, and the ones Ms. Action likes have a price tag of $59.99 (!) so we move on. Unable to find a hat, we head for the check out. Ms. Action decides she is big enough to walk “by herself”, after she promises to stick close to me, I let go of her hand. Waiting in line (or doing anything that requires standing still) is horribly hard for Ms. Action, after she hides in two different clothing racks and pulls six sets of earmuffs off a rack I put her in charge of holding the socks. She is very proud to be helping and only drops the socks on the floor 3 times before we get up to the counter. She obediently shoves the socks onto the counter and promptly hides in a near by clothing rack from the friendly clerk.

I am relieved to be back in the crowded mall area, the Sears loud speaker announcing “only 14 shopping days left!” and “come to our ______ area for a __% discount only today!!” was driving me crazy. Its nice to have the speakers drowned out by many voices and footsteps.

We find a mall rack filled with large hats with ear flaps, PERFECT. After purchasing one, we head to the food court for a snack. Ms. Action is dragging a bit by now and the idea of a snack is very appealing. We go to the restaurant without any line (which happens to be Arbys) and order cheese fries. Ms. Action tells everyone else in the line that forms behind us that they “have to wait for the french fries, it will be ready in one minute!” and then we take our food to a table. After eating the fries and drinking the water and pronouncing it “REALLY good”, we pop into the Dollar store for some stocking stuffer candy (counting on Ms. Action forgetting what they were by Christmas) and then on our way out of the Mall Ms. Action gets the much coveted ride on the mechanical horsey.

In the car on the way home Ms. Action recites a list of all the things we did (I hope that she forgets to tell Daddy about that buying the hat and socks part) and squeals excitedly whenever we see Christmas lights. She asks me to sing the Sesame Street version of “The 12 days of Christmas” and joins in loudly whenever we get to “and one Elmo up in a tree!”

I didn’t get to a few of the things I needed, and I forgot to get a brothers birthday card when we were in the dollar store. But it never ceases to amaze me how much I can learn from my 3 year old daughter.

Life is such an exciting adventure to a 3 year old. She trusts completely in me, knowing that she will be provided for and taken care of. She sees the good in most things without even trying.

I want to strive to be like Ms. action in that way. I want to always remember to be excited about Christmas lights and “jammies”. To think that cheese fries and water are “REALLY good”. Can I be excited about the everyday and brave enough to walk by myself even when I encounter “scary clerks”? Can I be thrilled that I have my very own “pockets”? Can I feel proud to do the tasks around me?

I think I can.

If I remember to trust completely in God, knowing that I will be provided for and taken care of.