Silly Willy
Willy is a GREAT big brother. He's also a pretty good little brother. All around, he's a pretty typical middle child. He screams for attention. He plays peacemaker. He can be sweet. He can be a monster. Luckily, as he's started to come to the end of his terrible threes (that's a thing, right?) he's blossoming into a delightful young man. Some of the stories below illustrate this point.
Tent Talk
Over the weekend, Grandma hosted a camp-out in the back yard. Traci helped the kids build a tent out of rope and sheets, which were draped over a tree. The family then attempted to brave the summer swarms of misquotes and get some sleep; however, as soon as Aedan fell asleep, the adults carried her inside to sleep in her bed.
In the morning, Aedan asked why she was in her room and no longer in the tent. Grandma quickly explained that she heard a bear brawling around the tent and was far too scared to stay outside. Being a responsible grandmother, she carried Aedan inside to safety as well. (Such a hero.)
Later, Aedan relayed the story to Will:
Aedan: (in a deliberate, dramatic voice) Grandma saw a bear come into the tent last night and it almost got her!!
Will: Did it break the tent?!
Grandma was overwhelmed with William's concern for her well-being. No, it's cool, Willy. Grandma's been mauled, but don't worry! The tent is fine!
In the morning, Aedan asked why she was in her room and no longer in the tent. Grandma quickly explained that she heard a bear brawling around the tent and was far too scared to stay outside. Being a responsible grandmother, she carried Aedan inside to safety as well. (Such a hero.)
Later, Aedan relayed the story to Will:
Aedan: (in a deliberate, dramatic voice) Grandma saw a bear come into the tent last night and it almost got her!!
Will: Did it break the tent?!
Grandma was overwhelmed with William's concern for her well-being. No, it's cool, Willy. Grandma's been mauled, but don't worry! The tent is fine!
Laundry Helper
Like most three year olds, Will is very good about dressing himself. He hates for anyone to help him get ready in the mornings and even instructs passerby's to close their eyes until he is fully clothed so he can surprise them with his skills. This is quite impressive because Willy hates pants...and much prefers to be naket...but that's a whole different story.
Recently, Willy was ready to put on a sock, but noticed something was wrong with it.
He held it up to Grandma and asked: "Will you back inside this out?"
At least he was on the right track.
Recently, Willy was ready to put on a sock, but noticed something was wrong with it.
He held it up to Grandma and asked: "Will you back inside this out?"
At least he was on the right track.
Weathering the Storm with Uncle David
Willy, like most three year olds, is not particularly fond of thunderstorms. The flash of lignting and the thunderous booms associated with the storms make him nervous. On Wednesday night, Willy found himself in the worst possible place to be weathering a brewing storm. In an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar city. Will and Aedan were spending the night with their Uncle David and Aunt Alice. The sleepover party was to give them a chance to play with two of their favorite cousins, Nora and Michael.
As the rain began to fall, Willy started to get anxious. When the gentle pitter-patter became a deluge, Will got nervous. Uncle David, on the other hand, got excited. I can almost hear him excitedly telling Will, "Look out the window! Isn't this great?!" Likewise, I can definitely hear Will responding, "I don't like it when it rains like this," in his timid toddler voice.
When faced with such circumstances, David believes there is only one way to conquer your fears and that is to face them head on. David saw the fear in Will's eyes as a subtle challenge. An opportunity to help this young boy overcome an obstacle that stood in the way of Will becoming a man. How lucky!
David rounded up all of the kids-Nora, Michael, Aedan and Will and escorted them outside and into the rain. When one child offered to get an umbrella, David quickly refused. Umbrellas are for the weak. David led his troops into the storm to prove that people are waterproof and storms are nothing to fear.
The gang went for a walk, absorbing the power of mother nature. Holding their faces up to the rain (but keeping their mouths closed, unlike domesticated turkeys. It's good that all of the children and adults proved to be smarter than domesticated turkeys that have a bad habit of staring up at the sky during such a rain and drowning themselves.) the group soaked in the joy of life. (Haha, see what I did there? Soaked in? Haha.)
After several minutes, Will began to see the joys of playing in the rain. While I'm not certain, I can guess that there was probably some running, jumping, splashing and singing. I'm sure by the time David decided they should all head inside and dry off, his request was met by groans and protest. There's no doubt that just one fun moment in the eye of a storm can change your outlook forever. In future rainstorms, I predict Will and Aedan will rush to the nearest exit and expect everyone to come outside with them and play in the rain.
Uncle David, you are quite the role model for young Will. Thanks for helping him face his fears and get his feet wet (literally) on the path to becoming a man. By the time he turns four in a week and a half, he will have matured tremendously. The next trick will be taching to avoid trees during lightning storms and avoiding the great outdoors during a tornado. Baby steps.
As the rain began to fall, Willy started to get anxious. When the gentle pitter-patter became a deluge, Will got nervous. Uncle David, on the other hand, got excited. I can almost hear him excitedly telling Will, "Look out the window! Isn't this great?!" Likewise, I can definitely hear Will responding, "I don't like it when it rains like this," in his timid toddler voice.
When faced with such circumstances, David believes there is only one way to conquer your fears and that is to face them head on. David saw the fear in Will's eyes as a subtle challenge. An opportunity to help this young boy overcome an obstacle that stood in the way of Will becoming a man. How lucky!
David rounded up all of the kids-Nora, Michael, Aedan and Will and escorted them outside and into the rain. When one child offered to get an umbrella, David quickly refused. Umbrellas are for the weak. David led his troops into the storm to prove that people are waterproof and storms are nothing to fear.
The gang went for a walk, absorbing the power of mother nature. Holding their faces up to the rain (but keeping their mouths closed, unlike domesticated turkeys. It's good that all of the children and adults proved to be smarter than domesticated turkeys that have a bad habit of staring up at the sky during such a rain and drowning themselves.) the group soaked in the joy of life. (Haha, see what I did there? Soaked in? Haha.)
After several minutes, Will began to see the joys of playing in the rain. While I'm not certain, I can guess that there was probably some running, jumping, splashing and singing. I'm sure by the time David decided they should all head inside and dry off, his request was met by groans and protest. There's no doubt that just one fun moment in the eye of a storm can change your outlook forever. In future rainstorms, I predict Will and Aedan will rush to the nearest exit and expect everyone to come outside with them and play in the rain.
Uncle David, you are quite the role model for young Will. Thanks for helping him face his fears and get his feet wet (literally) on the path to becoming a man. By the time he turns four in a week and a half, he will have matured tremendously. The next trick will be taching to avoid trees during lightning storms and avoiding the great outdoors during a tornado. Baby steps.