Where is the 3-year-old?

Elise teaches us many things.  Being that she's the third child, we find ourselves much more lax with.....well, with everything regarding her. In the park, we've all gone looking for her twice so far.  Both times she's been following dogs.

We have learned that the youngest child is somewhat neglected with home schooling.  She participates for the beginning and does some preschool things, but her attention span for table work is limited.  So, often, when she asks to play or read or whatever it is, she is pushed off until math is done or the spelling test is over.  I've tried some strategies such as bring out playdough or a box of toys she doesn't get to normally play with.  I run into the same problem.  She's three, and stays with one thing for 10 minutes if I'm lucky.

So, next month, she will be going to her own preschool two mornings a week.  We are all very happy about it and she seems particularly excited to have her own thing.  I suppose that comes with being the third child too.

Elise does love to be home with us and the three kids play together nonstop.  Why is that the youngest always has to be "in jail", "captive", or "the criminal"?

She has learned one thing just from seeing and doing it with the boys and I every morning.  Just about right, too.