Jude the Tropical Paradise

Jude’s four.

 

Four to me means feelings.  Something about being four means that you have to feel things passionately.  Would that I could be as firm in my convictions and opinions as a four year old.

It’s highly entertaining to me to watching him change on a dime emotionally from rage to delight.  I don’t provoke him, for sure.  That would be foolish.  But Jude is a bit impatient with his dramatic feelings at this time in his life.

 

Example:  “Jude, we need to go get some things at the store.”

“Nooooo!   I am playing toys!!  I don’t want to go!!  I hate the store!”  Thrashes about, frowns and twists his body in rage.

“Jude, it’s Target.”

“Oh, I yike Target!!”  Jumps for joy and starts chattering away.

“Jude, can you please go get your shoes on?”

“Nooo!  I don’t want to wear shoes!!  I don’t want to get them.”  Throws himself onto the floor.

“Why don’t you wear your flip flops?”

“Ok!”  Runs off to get them.

He’s high drama.  And he’s high fun.  He’s intense.  And he’s exciting.  He’s impassioned.  And he’s mercurial.  He’s my adorable tropical island with the smoothest skin you ever did see.

Thankfully, I can deal with this.  I don’t cave to feelings, but with Jude I don’t have to because they change so quickly.  He’s like a day in Hawaii.  Beautiful with occasional rain for variety.  These are not the hour long battle of wills, they’re just fracas.  He’s emoting.  And usually he’s a pretty happy enthusiastic guy.  I feel flattered that he tries to save all his storminess just for me because he knows I love him come rain or shine.

  To be fair, Jude puts up with a lot.  He’s the middle kid and gets to interact with Ms. Personality and Silas the two-year-old monster boy.

But Jude knows the hierarchy.  He doesn’t put up with crap.

Mimi has a clan of little girl friends she plays with frequently. Jude is always included, but he sometimes finds the girly stuff a bit taxing.  

So I have a special place in my heart for my Middle.  The new mantra around here is Middle Comes First.  And Hurricane Jude is definitely getting his due share of attention and privileges.

Jude got the RC Ferrari, Silas got the little Fisher Price car.  Life is unfair and Jude likes it.

   

He’s my cubby.  I live for the evening he sneaks out to chat with me once the other kids are asleep.  We love each other.