Gender Assignment

Sarah likes to assign genders to all her dolls and animals. The majority are girls, even Winnie the Pooh. I've tried convincing her that he's a male, but she insists that "She's a GIRL!"

We had a scene like this yesterday after school. An obviously MALE dog trotted by as we were getting in the car:

Sarah: "Look Mommy! A doggie! She's so pretty!"
Me: That's a boy dog.
Sarah: Nu-uh, it's a girl.
Me: Um, nope. It has boy parts.
Sarah: It has lots of nipples so it's a girl!
Me: (Laughing) All dogs have nipples. And it's a boy.
Sarah: NO IT'S NOT! It has a big tummy and nipples so it's a MOMMY DOG!
Me: (Laughing harder) Really, honey, it has boy parts. I saw them.
Sarah: STOP IT! IT'S A GIRL! I SAW THE NIPPLES!
Me: (Uncontrolable laughter)
Sarah: STOP IT!! You make me mad, Mommy. It's a girl dog.
Me: Okay, if you say so. (giggling)


Really, she knows the difference between boys and girls - we even had a talk about it the other day. But in her world, if you have a LOT of nipples, you're automatically a girl. *shrug*

ARRRGGGGHHH!

If you thought the Terrible Twos were bad, you haven't experienced the Fucking Fours!

OMG!

For a while, I thought it was just us. This is how Sarah is and I'm going to suffer through it. Nope, it's a phenomenon amongst all four year olds, something programmed in our DNA that is triggered when you turn four. Suddenly, the child learns that in order to drive you INSANE they should:

- sing at the top of their lungs in the car
- make the most annoying noises ever while you're trying to watch the weather
- make as much noise while you're on the phone
- follow you if you leave the room while on the phone, and be as loud as possible
- tackle little brother after you have told them not to
- continue to do somthing after being told a zillion times not to
- NOT do something after being told a zillion times to do it
- claim that they hate whatever food is placed in front of them even though they liked it last week
- pick at their food
- eat one piece of rice at a time with their fingers
- demand that you get them _________ now
- refuse to go to the bathroom alone because they're scared
- pitch a fit if you park in the wrong place at school
- continously repeat their grievences as loudly as possible in the car on the way home
- continue the grievences when you get home, throwing themselves on the floor
- go into hysterics if sent to their room
- claim that you don't like them anymore and you make them sad
- protest what's on the menu for dinner
- pick their noses and eating what they find (shudder)
- immediately get into fridge or pantry when you get home, looking for a snack
- not sit down or stay seated
- ask a MILLION BILLION questions

Those are just a FEW lovely things they do. Only 6 more months until she's 5.

(whimper)