That time my three-year-old gave away the secret(s)

I had Maximus help me wrap Christmas presents this year. It was wonderful and exhausting at the same time. He figured out the process really quickly, but wasn’t always quick about applying tape. I enjoy wrapping presents and it was fun to have him involved. We talked about who the presents were for and what they were. {He wasn’t with us when they were bought.} When it came time to wrap my dad’s gift, I told him it had to be a surprise. I was a little concerned that he would spill the beans the next time he saw him.

Christmas at my parent’s house is a little chaotic. My siblings each have three kids, add our two, adults, and all the gifts. We open youngest to oldest, which meant that Maximus got to open two gifts each time. You know, because he didn’t think Quinten could do it himself. About halfway through the gifts, one of my nephews was opening his present from us when Maximus shouted out, “Oh! Ethan it’s your shirt and shorts!” The room burst out laughing as he opened his box to find a t-shirt and two pairs of shorts. I reminded him that it was supposed to be a surprise. I was amazed that he even remembered! After that Bryan gave him the nickname little rainman. {I pulled him on my lap when my dad opened his gift and I repeatedly said, “Don’t tell grandpa what it is. It’s a surprise.”}

Bryan’s birthday is this weekend and Maximus helped me hide his presents in Quinten’s closest. You see where this is going, right? 🙂 I told him it was a secret and we couldn’t tell daddy that we were hiding them. He helped me shut the doors and I was fairly confident that he understood me. It’s a secret, don’t tell daddy what we got him, it’s a surprise. Bryan walked in the door 15 minutes later. As soon as he shut the door, before taking his shoes off, Maximus burst into the entryway. “HI DADDY! WE PUT YOUR PRESENTS IN QUINTEN’S CLOSET!!!! IT’S A SECRET!” And then I remembered that he ruined the surprise at Christmas and I probably shouldn’t trust my three-year-old with secrets too big. We’ll see if he can hold the rest in. I suppose this is a good test for Bryan, too. Especially since they are too big to wrap.