Living with a 3 1/2 year old (going on 14) is like living with Jeckyll and Hyde. One moment she’s sweet and wonderful and the next she’s stubborn and obstinant.

For example…yesterday morning I was taking Claire to school and we had this conversation as we were driving down sort of a side road where we saw a family of deer leap across the road last week:

C: Mommy, I saw reindeers next week.

Me: Reindeers?

C: Yeah, Reindeers, jumped across the road.

Me: Oh right Claire, yes we saw deer run across the road last week.

C: No mommy, they were REINDEERS

Me; No Claire, they were deer. Doe’s to be exact. Mommy deer. Reindeer live at the North Pole.

C: [Pause] With Santa?

Me: Yes, Claire, with Santa.

C: It’s cold up there. Do they eat ice in their froats??

Me: Sometimes they do, I think so.

C: Hmmm…Let’s call Daddy and tell him my favorite reindeers just crossed the road. I love my reindeers. They are my best friends.

Two minutes later she hiccuped and said this:

C: Mommy uh oh, I have a frog in my froat. It just ribbeted.

She is adorable and funny…Until she gets tired…and then Dr. Jekyll comes out. Take this morning for example…this is the first conversation Jonathan had with her:

J: Claire, your boots are on the wrong feet.

C: No er not.

J: Yes they are. Put them on the right feet.

C: But, I was just…

J: 3, 2, 1

C: Okay!

J: (very gently) Claire, please listen to me. It would be very helpful to me in the morning if you could do that.

C: Okay, Daddy.

Second Conversation - two minutes later.

J: Claire, go potty before we leave.

C: Okay, Daddy. (comes out of bathroom, then grabs her backpack from near the back and bathroom doors, which is full of overnight clothes.)

C: My backpack! Daddy, I found my backpack!

J: Yes, sweetie, but we’re using it to pack your clothes for later.

C: But it’s MY backpack! (proceeds to try and drag it to the living room gate.)

J: Claire, put it back, please.

C: NO!

J: NOW!

C: Sigh. Ok Daddy.