John was watching the kids the other day while I worked in the store. (Win-win - I get a break from the kids and he gets a break from the store.)
Stephanie asked him for some water. She had just finished some milk and it was only about a half an hour until dinner so he told her he would get her some when it was dinnertime.
About 2 minutes later, he hears a quiet sigh, and a "I'm so thirsty."
He didn't say anything.
Another 2 minutes later, there's a slightly louder sigh and another "I'm soooo thirsty."
_______________
Now when she asks to do something and we tell her no, she advises us, "When I'm a grown-up, I'm going to {insert whatever it is she was told no for here}."
She's going to eat cookies before dinner, stay up late watching Futurama, carry the cats all over the house (she does that now, so we try to intervene when they get tired of it), drink soda all day long. . . on and on the list goes.
And, apparently, I'm still going to be living with her then. It is not easy for a 4-year-old brain to grasp the fact that when she is a grown-up, she will probably rather not be living with Mommy.
________________
She also tries to be sneaky. Just now, she asked if she could use the glitter paints and I told her she could - after her nap. So I see her walking in a sneaky way and tell her to come over here. So she hides what she's carrying behind a box and comes over. Eventually, she brought it over and it was some glitter paints. I thought I had them all put up out of reach. Apparently not.
________________
Yesterday, we went to the store and she tried to steal a toy by hiding it in her pants. I might not have noticed but she was grabbing her crotch and walking funny. I was going to ask if she needed to go to the bathroom but it was pretty obvious she was hiding something.
Guess who gets to ride in the cart next shopping trip?
_________________
I put her down for a nap the other day and laid down with her. She yawned and said, "You were right, Mommy, I am tired."
Monday, October 19
Tuesday, October 13
Frightening Fours
You know, I thought once we were out of the 3's, it would be smooth sailing for awhile.
But ever since this child turned FOUR, she's been trying to give me a coronary.
This weekend, she flooded the bathroom AGAIN. This time she put too much toilet paper in the toilet and it rebelled. That was so much fun - I really, really enjoy cleaning the bathroom and would like to do it every day. That was sarcasm, folks.
And last night, I found her sitting in the bathroom sink. Her forehead hurt, she said, so she was dabbing water on her head.
_________
Sunday, at Hayden's last football game, she told everyone who asked that her name is "Snow White."
I guess that makes me the wicked step-mother. Which is better than the Disney alternative - that would be the beautiful, patient, kind, sweet, DEAD mother.
Why are all the Disney mothers dead? Snow White, Cinderell, even the newer ones like Belle and The Little Mermaid - all the mothers are dead. Pinochio never even had a mother. Bambi. Oh, wait - Sleeping Beauty's mother was alive! And her father too! Of course, they didn't raise her but Yay! for Aurora Dawn! That was her name, wasn't it?
Well, I have to go now - Snow White wants to play on the computer. And, the vacuum has been sitting neglected all weekend. And that laundry hasn't jumped into the washing machine on its own yet.
But ever since this child turned FOUR, she's been trying to give me a coronary.
This weekend, she flooded the bathroom AGAIN. This time she put too much toilet paper in the toilet and it rebelled. That was so much fun - I really, really enjoy cleaning the bathroom and would like to do it every day. That was sarcasm, folks.
And last night, I found her sitting in the bathroom sink. Her forehead hurt, she said, so she was dabbing water on her head.
_________
Sunday, at Hayden's last football game, she told everyone who asked that her name is "Snow White."
I guess that makes me the wicked step-mother. Which is better than the Disney alternative - that would be the beautiful, patient, kind, sweet, DEAD mother.
Why are all the Disney mothers dead? Snow White, Cinderell, even the newer ones like Belle and The Little Mermaid - all the mothers are dead. Pinochio never even had a mother. Bambi. Oh, wait - Sleeping Beauty's mother was alive! And her father too! Of course, they didn't raise her but Yay! for Aurora Dawn! That was her name, wasn't it?
Well, I have to go now - Snow White wants to play on the computer. And, the vacuum has been sitting neglected all weekend. And that laundry hasn't jumped into the washing machine on its own yet.
Tuesday, October 6
Didn't Want a Nap?
I put Stephanie down for a nap today.
She said,
She said,
"I thought I was going to have a good day today. But I guess not. All because of YOU."
Non-Sleep Walking
This girl is going to be the death of me.
For the past 3 nights, she has still been awake when I went to bed.
For the past 3 nights, I lie in bed and hear "thump, thump, thump, thump" down the hallway.
The first night, I believed her when she said she was just scared and looking for me.
The third night, I did not believe that any longer.
It was bad enough that she kept her school-aged sister up until after 10. Then I had her sit on the chair next to me long enough to let Meredith go to sleep. I (stupidly) thought if she had no one to talk to, she would give up and go to sleep.
And you all wonder why I'm so tired all the time.
For the past 3 nights, she has still been awake when I went to bed.
For the past 3 nights, I lie in bed and hear "thump, thump, thump, thump" down the hallway.
The first night, I believed her when she said she was just scared and looking for me.
The third night, I did not believe that any longer.
It was bad enough that she kept her school-aged sister up until after 10. Then I had her sit on the chair next to me long enough to let Meredith go to sleep. I (stupidly) thought if she had no one to talk to, she would give up and go to sleep.
And you all wonder why I'm so tired all the time.
Sunday, September 27
Wanted: An Ark
On Friday I had to go into the girls' room for something and I smelled cat poo. Really, really strong cat poo. And I was mad - I will not have a cat in my house that can't figure out where and how to use the cat box. So I looked around trying to find the source and I found it - poor Butch was trapped under a toy crate. Obviously, it was not the cat's fault since I'm pretty sure he couldn't have trapped himself. Poor little thing was almost beside himself. I wonder who could/would have trapped the little guy? Hmmmmmmmmmm.
I took the culprit aside and showed her what the cat had done and advised her to not ever trap any animals like that again. (And now I watch for trapped animals every time I go into a room.)
________________
Saturday, I was sitting on the couch after having worked in the store all day. I was relaxing and enjoying the quiet. Philip was napping, Meredith was playing on the computer, Stephanie was ?????
That's when I realized I hadn't seen Stephanie for awhile. At first I thought maybe she had gone with Grandma then I remembered the last time I saw her, she was headed to the bathroom.
So I jumped up and stomped over to the bathroom. (I knew she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.) I opened the door and she's standing there dripping wet from her head to her feet and standing in a giant puddle on my floor. She was trying to wash her hair.
I just shut the door on her and went to get the mop. I really was just too mad to speak to her and needed a moment. (I hate people flooding my bathroom - just ask Meredith and the 2 little girls I used to babysit for.) Then I stripped her clothes off, advised her to go get her pajamas on and get into bed, and then I mopped the stupid floor.
I took the culprit aside and showed her what the cat had done and advised her to not ever trap any animals like that again. (And now I watch for trapped animals every time I go into a room.)
________________
Saturday, I was sitting on the couch after having worked in the store all day. I was relaxing and enjoying the quiet. Philip was napping, Meredith was playing on the computer, Stephanie was ?????
That's when I realized I hadn't seen Stephanie for awhile. At first I thought maybe she had gone with Grandma then I remembered the last time I saw her, she was headed to the bathroom.
So I jumped up and stomped over to the bathroom. (I knew she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.) I opened the door and she's standing there dripping wet from her head to her feet and standing in a giant puddle on my floor. She was trying to wash her hair.
I just shut the door on her and went to get the mop. I really was just too mad to speak to her and needed a moment. (I hate people flooding my bathroom - just ask Meredith and the 2 little girls I used to babysit for.) Then I stripped her clothes off, advised her to go get her pajamas on and get into bed, and then I mopped the stupid floor.
Wednesday, September 16
The Wedding
I'm going to a wedding on Saturday.
Today I asked Stephanie if she would like to go to the store with me to get a present for a wedding.
She said, "Whose wedding is it?"
"One of my friends' daughter's."
"Who is she marrying?"
"She's marrying her 'Prince Charming.'"
"Do you have a Prince Charming?"
"Your Daddy is my Prince Charming."
"Does that mean you are married to him?"
"Yes."
"I didn't want you to be married. I want you to be married to me."
Today I asked Stephanie if she would like to go to the store with me to get a present for a wedding.
She said, "Whose wedding is it?"
"One of my friends' daughter's."
"Who is she marrying?"
"She's marrying her 'Prince Charming.'"
"Do you have a Prince Charming?"
"Your Daddy is my Prince Charming."
"Does that mean you are married to him?"
"Yes."
"I didn't want you to be married. I want you to be married to me."
Tuesday, September 15
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