Thriving Threes

AJ recently turned 3, and with that milestone came a whirlwind of emotions, a burst of independence, and the oh-so-familiar phrase: “I can do it myself.” We hear it daily now—it’s become part of the soundtrack of our lives. Every time she says it, it’s a sweet reminder that our once-tiny toddler is growing into a determined little human, ready to take on the world one challenge at a time.

Naturally, this age also comes with its fair share of tricky moments. Some mornings, AJ wakes up feeling a certain way and will let us know she needs “space” or says, “not right now,” with complete conviction. Most days, we can go with the flow—but there are those mornings when we’ve got places to be and she’s just not having it. In those moments, I do my best to stay calm, reminding myself that losing patience only makes things harder. I often think back to something Gemma once told me during a tough moment: “Mom, I need you to calm down.” It was so simple, but it stuck with me. Our kids reflect what we give them—if I stay grounded, they’re more likely to stay grounded too. I’m their safe place, their steady in the storm. When I hold it together, it helps them do the same.

We like to say AJ is in her “Thriving Threes.” The term “Terrible Threes” never felt quite right—it just doesn’t capture the beauty and growth that’s happening right now. Sure, this phase can be loud, messy, and totally unpredictable. But it’s also packed with learning, love, and deeper connection.

So yes, we’re all thriving—navigating the chaos, growing together, and figuring out how to better love and support each other through this wild and wonderful chapter.

Love, Gemma and Jules’s mom