It's Hard to be 4

Ephraim and I spend about an hour on the road each morning. We take his brothers to school first, and then have about 20 - 30 minutes before his preschool begins. A couple of weeks ago, Ephraim told me as we were driving that he didn't want to go to school that day. I don't let him play hooky from preschool, because I'm afraid that will set an expectation in Kindergarten that will be hard to change... so I laughed in an upbeat voice, "Ephraim! You have to go to school!"

Ephraim sighed heavily and said in a very serious voice, "It's hard to be 4."

I just love children at age 3 and 4! Despite the attitude that often accompanies the age... I just love seeing their little personalities emerge! It eases the pain of not having a baby any more to see your children just get so much more... well, interesting as they get older.

When Matthew was 3, I was still working full time. He didn't want me to go to work one day. I tried to reason with him by saying, "Matthew, I have to go to work to make money so that we can buy toys." He just cried harder, and said,"I don't want you to buy toys. I just want you to stay home with me!"

Matthew was in a Christian Daycare that year, and his teacher tried to teach the children about Jesus. I don't know exactly what she taught, but I suspect it was a bit over the children's' heads. Matthew tried to process it, but was definitely more disturbed than enlightened.
He asked me one day, "Mommy, if Jesus lives inside my heart... isn't it dark in there?"
On another occasion he asked, "If Jesus lives in my heart... what does he do when he has to go to the bathroom?"

Nathan has been a huge Spiderman fan since he was 3 years old. When he was 4, he was playing at his friend Parks' house and the two of them found a spider. Luckily, Parks' Mom Leah was close by, because she heard Nathan saying, "Oooh... I wonder if I let this spider bite me if I will be like Spiderman?" Thank goodness Leah quickly intervened!

After I picked Ephraim up from preschool today, he and I were talking about his brothers. I said something like, "You sure do love your brothers, don't you?" At first, he agreed... but then though better of it.

"Mommy!" He exclaimed indignantly. "I'm not a girl!"

Startled, I asked, "What do you mean, Ephraim? Boys love, too!"
He completely dismissed the notion. "No, they don't Mommy. Boys don't have hearts!"

An hour later, Ephraim was a little sleepy. He followed me around the kitchen very persistently. After a few minutes, I picked him up and held him close. He stayed in my arms for about 10 minutes... a very long time for a 4-year-old boy. "I love you, Ephraim," I told him.

"I love you, too, Mommy," he said quietly.