Three cheers for four

Three cheers for four

There is something special about the age of four. That's a silly thing to say, since there is something special about every age to observers of children's growth and development — particularly those who also happen to be grandparents. Obviously, my love and devotion don't lessen as my grandchildren graduate to kindergarten or middle school. But four is such a fun age for grown-ups who love whimsy and marvel at the emergence of verbal play and other signs of mental expansion.

Fours' premises may be not always be realistic, but after a whimsical starting point, their thinking strides are astonishing. All this is a prologue to a story about my currently 4-year-old grandson, who "got to thinking."

He's the same guy who tries to straighten out his 15-month-old brother's seeming confusion about names. Well, our 4 year old had obviously been thinking about how well he was succeeding in the tutelage of the “baby,” who is now sort of walking and certainly talking, relating, interacting, and making his feelings well known to all.

Big brother clearly noticed. In fact, he approached his mom one day and said, "I think we need to have another baby now." When Mommy inquired about what had led him to that conclusion, he said, "Well [he often starts sentences with "Well" lately], I think I have taught our baby everything I know. So now I need another littler baby to teach." In other words, "My work is done here; this guy has become a person in his own right."

Mommy couldn’t resist asking where the family would get another baby. The 4 year old confidently responded, "From your tummy, of course." Mommy was impressed, but so far, not persuaded. Stay tuned!

July 1, 2008