MATT’S LETTER TO GRAMPA

George McGurn

July 26, 2000

Here is a silly story about my grandson writing me a letter when he was three years old .

Hi Grampa,

I just want to let you know how things have been for me since I turned three. It hasn’t been a picnic. First, my baby brother, Danny, is out of his crib and now he can walk and even run. You’d think he was the first kid in the world to do it. My parents made such a fuss over him. I couldn’t believe it. For the last three months all I have heard has been: "Look at Danny. Don’t push him, Matt. Be gentle. He is only a baby. That’s Danny’s truck. Share with your brother." They treat Danny like he was a Prince.

Then there was the disaster with my Binkey. Grampa, you know how I loved that Binkey. But Mom and Dad said that when I was three my Binkey had to go to another baby. Hey, I’m only three. I’m still a baby. How about me? Well, the Binkey is gone for good and I’m holding on to my Nighty-nite real tight because you never know around here.

Then they hit me with this preschool thing. I didn’t have a clue what it meant. But they said I would love it. And all three- year- olds have to go to preschool. Well, at first I didn’t love it. I figured they were trying to get rid of me so they could spend more time with the Prince.

When I first went to preschool I could just see Danny going into my room and getting into all of my special toys. I thought that my parents were even taking Danny to "Old McDonalds" while I slaved in preschool. I figured I should be home to protect my stuff.

Well, I met some great buddies at preschool. I met, Robby, Josh and Bobby. And now we kind of put our heads together and compare notes about being three-years -old. I couldn’t believe my buddies when they started to tell me what was going on in their families.

It was the same deal. They had younger brothers and sisters who got all the attention. They lost their Binkey. Then it was preschool. And they all were hit with the "You’re a big boy now" line. Well, I’m not a big boy. Big BobGiunta is a real big boy. He is 6 feet 3. And he weighs over 200 pounds. And that’s why everybody calls him "Big Bob." Now, that’s a big boy.

I’m not even three feet tall yet. And I only weigh 31 pounds. That’s not even close to being a big boy. For heavens sake, I’m only three years old.

At preschool my buddies and I hang out together at snack time. It gives us a special time to share our stories with someone who knows what it’s like to be three. At first I was kind of down on my parents with everything I went thru being three years old. But after I heard the same stories from my buddies at school I guess my parents did what every other parent has to do when their kid is three.

Eddie is another kid I met at preschool. He is really smart. He is almost four years old so he has been around. Eddie wants us to meet once a week in a place without grown-ups and form a support group for three- year- old kids. I hope we can work it out.

Grampa, It’s really not all bad for me. Some things are actually going a little better in my family now. My Mom and Dad just got me a real bed to sleep in and I love it. No more crib for me. I think I will give my crib to my brother. He is really a baby and he needs a crib.

And things are also changing for the Prince. Finally, they are beginning to get wise to his act. He has been bothering me for three months and I have been getting the blame. Now I am hearing some sweet words around this house: "Danny, don’t touch. Danny, that’s Matt’s truck. Danny, don’t push." Grampa, those words are music to my three- year-old ears. I can’t understand why it took my parents so long to come down on Danny.

And Grampa, I just loved it last week when you and Gramdma came to baby sit and you told Danny not to touch my building blocks. I guess everybody is finally getting wise to Danny.

Well, Danny still has his Binkey. But I have my new bed and I really like going to school. I can visit my new friends. And I can even invite them over to my house. Being three was tough for a while but I am now beginning to enjoy being older than " you know who."

Love,

Matt