the good and the bad

The one thing I really hate about being a parent is dealing with the bad stuff that makes our kids sad.  Sunday night one of our cats went missing, and Braxton asks everyday where Tiger is, and I don't have an answer for him. Then yesterday we were supposed to have a play date with one of his friends and he and his mom never showed up so Braxton was upset.  I have learned that he is a big hearted child and he takes everything very personally so it makes very hard to carefully explain upsetting things.  I just have to try to stay positive in my explanations, I told him that sometimes kitties run off but that Tiger may come back.  As far as his friend I had to say that I wasn't sure where they were and maybe his friend fell asleep and his Mommy didn't want to wake him up from a nap.  There was no other explanation for either I just hope that as he grows up he realizes things aren't always his fault.

There is a bright side to every situation, and that is that there are always times you get to give them good news, like, he gets to go to Grandma and Grandpas all day Saturday, and on Sunday we get to go watch a parade.  I am sure that those are two things that should cheer him right up.  At least I hope they do.

I must be doing something right

I decided yesterday at the grocery store my parenting  skills aren't completely lacking.  I was getting ready to go to the store and asked Braxton if there was anything he wanted and his list was Chicken nuggets, strawberries, watermelon, apples, and Bananas.  He is such a good little eater!

Well of coarse taking a 3 yr old to the grocery store is a challenge but I had to take an overtired 3 yr old because my husband wasn't home yet, so he tried my patients.  However when he started to act up I told him I was going to put the strawberries back and he instantly stood at my side and became the perfect Angel.  He asked me while we were shopping if I would buy him yogurt and I said yes, so we went to pick some out and he grabbed two off the shelf and said, "Here Momma, I will get two..One for me and one for you."  What a little prince charming.

Now if only I could get him to behave that well all the time, I'd be in heaven.

Why?

Braxton has always been a relatively inquisitive child, I think his first word was "What?" while pointing at the cat. He has now reached the WHY phase, and it is constant. I would be willing to guess that he asks why at least 75 times a day.

He will not accept, "because I said so." or "that's just the way it is" as legitimate answers. He wants a rational answer and he wants it explained as in depth as possible. I have tried to skirt around the whole truth and make the answer quick and simple and he just keeps asking more questions until I end up just spending 10 minutes explaining the whole answer in detail.

I just keep reminding myself that this too shall pass, and that it is probably a good thing that he is so inquisitive, and enjoys learning new things.