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I guess we generally don’t give much thought to things that we don’t expect to confront as a parent.  One that has recently come up with K is unbending, cranky perfectionism.  Now being a little bit of a detail person myself (cough) this personality trait doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but really people, she is THREE and already getting quite anal about certain things.  Is this normal?  On the spectrum between autistic style rigidity, and the easy-going baby she used to be, I guess she’s somewhere around a 7 or 8 but I can’t decide if this should alarm me.

For example, I love to draw with her and write letters and whatnot when I can get her focused attention.  Lately, she gets very angry and frustrated if she can’t draw a PERFECT circle or square, and starts fussing and yelling “I CAN’T DO IT” if I even suggest writing some letters together.  I’m not a drill seargent!  I never criticize, just praise her efforts and success, so come on, what gives?  Is this a phase? Is this a side effect of the school thing where she is asked to trace her name each morning?   I know she does get frustrated with them frequently prompting her to hold the crayon/markers the right way.  Come to think of it, I remember  those reminders frustrating me as a kid too.  hmmmm.

Another example is her minor obsession with lining up the star stickers on her potty training chart perfectly within the lines.  She will in fact ask me to un-stick any offenders so she can reposition them unless they are absolutely perfect. 

Anyway, not sure where this one is headed…full time personality trait or phase blip on the parenting radar but either way it surprised me.