Ben

The boys and i walk to and from pre school. Well not always to preschool as this morning it was only 1 degree but usually home from preschool and we now have our routine. Matthew, Ryan and Ben walk out of the gate and then go running through the bushland. Well its unmowed grass and trees. They run out of the gate along the fence and yes you guessed it hand along the fence. Then they run over the pile of bark chip and then through the long grass as far away from the big dogs that bark but where they can still see me. (i stick to the pathway!) Matthew is always first, then comes Ryan with his interesting style of running and finally Benny brings up the rear. Tripping over every stick, tuft of grass or leaf. And its not because he is unco (as is the case of Ryan) but because 19 month olds really shouldn't be capable of running through bushland! And when i ask him if he wants to go in the stroller i get a defensive "NO!" Not only does Ben do things he really shouldn't physically do he does it with an attitude I've never seen in a 19 month old. When we get to the walking path that leads to the bus stop where Ryan and Matthew must wait for me, Ben starts kicking the heels to his boots and swaggering. He, I guess, sneers at me knowing that i will put him in the stroller. His cheeks wobble and if i give him an extra metre or so he grins his cheeky grin. The attitude and cheekiness that surrounds him takes my breath away. My baby is in such a hurry to catch up to his big brothers and i don't think there is anything i can do to stop it!