How Would You Describe Your Child?

I stared at the question on the preschool parent questionnaire.

How would you describe your child?

I’m not sure why, but I always hated being asked about my baby’s temperament at well baby checks. It felt like there was a possibility of giving the wrong answer or labeling unintentionally or being just plain wrong. I mean, how do you describe what a baby is like? They cry, poop and eat. The better question was always how was my temperament dealing with it all.

How would you describe your child?

Some days — you know, the rough ones — my views about my kids can get clouded by the not-so-fun stuff. The stubbornness, the defiance, the I’m-growing up and don’t need you to do this but yet I’m still little and need your help conflicts. Some days it is too easy to list off the things I’m not happy about behavior-wise.

How would you describe your child?

Sometimes needing to answer a question like this to give strangers (wait, not strangers… new caregivers. Teachers.) insight into my almost-4-year-old helps take a step back from the day-to-day. Because who she really is shines through even when her normal kid antics conflict with my expectations and requests. I want to describe her strengths. The things that make her uniquely Aerissa, a crazy wild ball of high energy who is super fun to be around when she’s not testing my limits.

How would you describe your child?

My daughter is very friendly and outgoing. When we’re at the park she gets excited to see other kids playing. She joins right in and wants to be everyone’s friend. (Well, sometimes she objects to boys, but we’re working on that.) She will usually introduce herself but sometimes will talk through me to help break the ice.

Rissa is very much a leader and demonstrates leadership abilities in dance class as well as the way she’ll delegate and direct play among other kids. (And she likes to direct mama.)

When asked directly to help at home she may say no, but otherwise she is a great helper. She likes to help younger kids and to pick up at story time.

She’s physically active and seems to be more extroverted. She’s imaginative, inquisitive, and funny. She’s also strong-willed and spirited.

How would you describe your child?

I ran out of room on the form.