6 Times My Preschooler Got Away with Things I Never Could (and why I secretly envy her)
We don’t admit it out loud, but sometimes being an adult is a drag.
The endless cycle of paying the bills, buying toilet paper, scheduling dentist appointments, attending these dentist appointments, and cooking another meal, folding laundry, even though you’ll be wearing it again tomorrow, and keeping life together is a constant pressure.
Sometimes, I think to myself, “How can she be the one in charge right now? She’s so fierce and independent, but also delightful.”
The emotional pace of the home is set by this tiny human, with her lisp and her deep love for unicorn socks. She doesn’t have to pay taxes. She doesn’t juggle her calendar. She does not plan meals or arrange car service. She simply exists in her world of color and curiosity.
What’s the funniest part? She gets away with things that I would have gotten into serious trouble for as an adult of 31 years old, or at the very least, awkward conversations.
In the spirit of honest (and low-key jealousy), here are six ways my preschooler did things that I would never have gotten away with. And why I sometimes wish I were just like her.
1. When She Says Loudly That She Doesn’t Wanna Go To The Supermarket
Weekly grocery shopping. It’s not glamorous. It’s not exciting. It’s a mundane task that haunts my mind at night, whispering …” as I lay awake.
I am no different from most adults. Rain or shine. Tired. You can ride alone or with your kids, who will hang off the trolley as if they were circus performers.
However, my four-year-old doesn’t share the same sense of duty as an adult.
When I tell her that we need to go to the grocery store, she falls to the ground like she just heard she won’t be able to eat chocolate ever again.
“She protests with her arms crossed and bottom lip out, “But I hate shops.”
Can’t we all stay and play while someone else goes?
Honestly? Fair. Fair. I am also against the shops. If I could throw myself on the floor in the produce aisle and scream about how much I hate doing errands, it would be acceptable.
Instead, I adult. I write lists. I push the trolley. I purchased the broccoli.
Every time she moans about leaving, I nod internally and say, “Yeah, girl.” I can feel it.”
2. When She Doesn’t Want to Leave Her Favorite Spot (and lets it be known)
In our home office, there is a cabinet. It’s just a regular storage area. What about my daughter? It’s a sanctuary.
She has turned it into a private world: a tiny couch that folds out, a soft blanket, some stuffed animals, and books. It’s quiet. It’s hers. When she’s there, she is completely happy.
But I’d be damned if she was in the middle of a cupboard chill when I suggested leaving.
She will throw a pillow at the door and pull the blanket dramatically over her head.
“I’m not coming.” It’s my favorite spot. “Leave me alone.”
It’s funny because I swear I whisper the same thing at 6:30 am when my alarm goes on for work (minus the throw of the pillow).
What is that cozy closet-fort? All of us. When the world is noisy and demanding, we want to be there.
Why can’t adults build a fort in a cabinet? That is what I want. I want to sit in a cozy corner with blankets and sip tea while ignoring my responsibilities for a few hours. Or for a whole day.
Instead, I get up, groggy, responsible, and do what a grown-up should.
Why would she refuse to leave the place where she feels most comfortable? What kind of genius?
3. When She Doesn’t Want to Share (and isn’t afraid to say so)
We tell our children that sharing is caring.
Every parent knows, however, that sharing is a bad idea, especially when the reward is something tasty and hard-earned like a bar of chocolate in your pantry.
Consider my daughter’s crepes.
“Knowing what is coming, I ask, “Can I take a bite?”
“NO! They’re MINE! DO. NOT. TOUCH. THEM!”
She holds her plate as if it were a treasure guarded by a dragon.
This is a bold decision. One I envy.
When I buy myself a treat as an adult, it disappears in four mouthfuls before I blink. I try to show generosity. I try to set a good example. But deep down? I want to shout “NO!” My chocolate. “BACK OFF”
Alas, I smile, I share, I adult.
She proudly claims each crepe and is praised for being assertive.
Honesty is the best policy when it comes to queen behavior.
4. When She Says Things, I Can Only Think
We were recently in a long queue at the Post Office. The queue consisted of maybe 15 people. It was very hot. It was hot. Then someone — I won’t name names here– blew gas.
It was… potent
When I was desperately trying to pretend that I wasn’t dying, my daughter said:
“It smells like poop in here, Mum! “That is SO GROSS!”
Yes. Yes, it is. Yes, it is.
Could I say that? No, of course not.
I smiled at the woman standing in front of me and silently thanked my daughter for revealing the unspoken truth.
Preschoolers don’t filter. They express what we all think. They point out unfairness, injustice, or that your eyebrows are like caterpillars (thanks, sweetheart)
Their honesty is brutal, but refreshing.
5. When She Refuses To Get Dressed and Sometimes Wins
My daughter considers non-kindy days a fashion-free area. She would stay in pajamas all day if she were left to her own devices.
She’ll sometimes pull a fast move, throwing a jumper on top of her PJs and pretending to be “dressed” when we need to run to the shop. It’s a classic move.
How about being honest? Respect.
I have had many mornings when I have stared longingly at the pajamas I wear, wishing that I could just go to work, pick up my kids, or meet for coffee without changing. Pajamas make you feel cozy. They’re honest. They are honest.
Buttons are a must for adults. Bras. Zippers. Ugh.
My preschooler? She is a loungewear icon. I salute her.
6. When She Runs in the Rain Naked (Because, Why Not? )
When it begins to rain, my daughter loves to run through the backyard, naked.
It’s so beautiful and wild. She squeals in joy. She lifts her head to the sky. She looks completely comfortable in her okin.
She doesn’t care about what people think. She doesn’t care what her neighbors think. She is just living in the moment. Uninhibited and free.
While I was standing outside the door, wearing my raincoat and holding a towel, I was muttering something about the mud on the ground.
I want to be with her.
A part of me would like to be free again, to let go of all the stress, self-consciousness, and constant doing, and just be.
What Preschoolers Teach Us About Magic
What I realized is that preschoolers know how to do things in ways that we have forgotten.
Listen to your body. They are honest. They put comfort, joy, and curiosity first. They are fully immersed in life, whether that is a dance-off or a breakdown at the checkout.
They can be tiring. They need boundaries. They need boundaries, sure. But it also reminds us of parts of ourselves that we have silenced to grow up.”
The reminders are:
- It’s okay to feel strong emotions.
- A restful night’s sleep is a necessity, not a luxury.
- The pursuit of joy should not be apologetic.
- The ability to say no is a powerful superpower.
- You don’t have to put yourself last all the time.
What if We all Took A Page Out Of Their Book?
What if, like them, we said no to the world when we meant it too?
What if you stayed at home on a rainy afternoon?
What if we allowed ourselves to dance, play, and rest without filtering our actions for others’ comfort?
We have responsibilities. We’d probably be more balanced and better humans if even a portion were reclaimed.
This year, I am making a promise.
If I don’t want to go shopping, I will (in secret) stomp on my foot.
I will eat crepes guilt-free.
I will (politely) call out any bad odors.
When I can, I’ll wear my pajamas for the entire day.
One day, I will probably run in the rain.
Growing up can be a difficult process.
Do you ever wish that you were able to do what your children are doing? Tell us your favorite stories about “preschooler freedom”. Let’s celebrate the chaos and beauty of their way of life.
