I’m so bloody proud of her but also sometimes get waves of worry that her intense focus is a sign of an impending problem. Does anyone else have a really independent and competent 4 yr old? She’s sensitive emotionally and throws the odd strop but she is organised, tidy, observant and helpful. She disappears and I discover she’s tidied all the rooms upstairs, and not ‘kid’ tidy. Everything is folded and straight and toys are nicely categorised, rubbish in the bin, cups put aside to bring downstairs. Like an adult. She’s in nursery but is academically doing well and picks up her big brothers maths and letters, information etc with ease which is wonderful but it’s the careful way she manages the house that makes me uneasy. She notices her baby siblings with a yogurt so rushes over and gets it to put in the sink, sees one with a remote and gets it to place it on a high shelf, notices the baby gate open and closes it in passing. Sees the toilet roll holder empty and fills it without even mentioning it to me. Like it’s natural to do all these jobs. The others are just like forces of destruction who have to be taught every little thing. But she’s been like this since she could talk. She even takes herself off to get dressed and ready for nursery, tidy her breakfast away, pack her bag and go brush her teeth on her own. I’ve noticed she likes to gather her precious things at night and line them up on her bedside in the same way every night. She gets very angry when her little sister steals her things or messes with her bed. She doesn’t seem to freak out about her tidying being undone, just her personal things and space being invaded so maybe isn’t too distressed and people messing up her organisation. It’s helpful to write this out and see that nothing really is yet pointing to OCD or anxiety I think. But does anyone else have a child like this? She is warm and deeply kind (shares with everyone without being asked, even sworn enemy little sister) and social. I think I’m most worried about her becoming rigid about how she likes things and also getting hurt emotionally too easily as she is sensitive and takes offence easily.
Just to add, I’m well aware she’s wonderful and is by far my easiest child to deal with, sometimes I worry I don’t notice her needs with all the noise from the others. She’s always being treated as way older than she is bully our whole family.