In spite of all the maddening moments–the tantrums, the stubbornness, the intentional pushing of the parental buttons–I have to admit, 3 is a pretty fun age. Steven and I have a front row seat to witness our daughter’s personality really beginning to emerge. And, I gotta say, the only thing better than my baby girl’s beautiful blue eyes are the expressions that go along with them.
I’m telling you folks, if this kid doesn’t grow up to be a star on the stage or screen, I will eat my camera strap. Believe me, I’m not about to push Cadence down any path or into any extracurricular activity or career that she has no interest in, but I have seen very few children who love to perform (and practice it as much) as Cadence does. No joke. She can spend several hours a day acting out scenes from her favorite movies and cartoons in front of the mirror or window (or any shiny surface where she can see her reflection), changing her position and expression a little each time until she gets it just right.
Remember the scene in Cinderella where the stepmother announces that the girl who fits the glass slipper will the Prince’s bride, and Cinderella gasps, “The Prince!?” and drops the tray full of dishes? Yeah, Cadence practiced that one over two months until she mastered it, dropping pieces of her toy dinnerware all over the house and scaring the shit out of Steven, Electra, and I the first few dozen times we heard things crashing onto the wood floors.
Movie scenes, lines from her favorite cartoons, commercial jingles, TV theme songs, choreographed dance moves–you name it, Cadence will have it down, memorized, and ready to perform. Who needs cable when you’ve got Cadence in the house?
And for anyone who knows my movie-line-quoting husband, you can imagine how excited he is to have someone besides his wife who thinks it’s awesome to repeat favorite lines and scenes over and over and over again. He’s already plotting to ask Cadence if she wants to do the “Who’s on First” bit for her first school talent show. And knowing this kid, I have every reason to believe that she will freakin’ ROCK it!
Lori Romano 