Kate: Month Thirty Two

Kate,

Today you turned thirty-two months old. It's been another busy month, which has not been without its share of tantrums. In fact, I think you reached the cap on the maximum number of tantrums allowed in any given month. Do you know what they do with little girls who go over that limit? They get shipped to Walmart, where allegedly, Walmart eats babies. Since I don’t want that to happen, I apologize and take full responsibility for not ever being able to do anything right. Can we move on now?

You have inevitably moved into the world of dress-up. You are quite content to play dress up with just your everyday clothes, layer, after layer, after excruciating layer of them. For the first time, I’ve realized how your never ending wardrobe really can haunt me. Your desire to play dress-up ten hours a day really isn't as fun for the person who has to help with the 'dressing' part of dress-up. Dresses, and pants, and shirts, oh my! At least you appear to have outstanding taste in shoes.

I read a parenting book quite awhile ago that talked about the importance of notifying kids of change and giving them transition time. Don’t parenting books suck? You will learn this someday when you grow up. They exist to contradict each other, leave you more confused after you finish reading them than when you started, and to affirm the fact that you really don’t know anything and your kids will most likely grow up to be drug-dealing criminals. Anyway, this book talked about giving kids a warning before you transition to a different activity, instead of just uprooting them. Our transition word has always been, “Okay Kate, just two more minutes.” Insert accolades to the parenting book people because this method has really worked for us. Umm, until now. It appears that our transition word has somehow transformed into a negotiating word. Instead of us saying “Two more minutes”, all I hear from you is, “I’m going to do it FOR TWO MORE MINUTES.” Whenever you are told no, it turns into, “Yes, I am going to do it FOR TWO MINUTES.” Well, this has been fun. Okay smart-parenting-people-book-writers, where is the sequel?

The other night you and I were sitting at your little activity table coloring. Without lifting your eyes, you reached out and handed me a crayon. “Here you go honey,” you said nonchalantly. For the past few days, when you are reminding me that you are the one in charge here and really are taking care of me, you make sure to throw a number of “honeys” in there. Honey, this has got.to.stop. Speaking of things that need to stop, your current obsession right now is the leaves changing colors and THEN IT WILL SNOW – THEN IT WILL SNOW – THEN IT WILL SNOW. I much prefer to continue living like that is not going to happen anytime soon thankyouverymuch.

Kate, there are very few things about you that are babyish any longer. You truly are becoming a big girl. There are many moments when I just stop and catch myself amazed at how quickly you’ve grown. I am very much looking forward to continuing on this wonderful journey with you. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Hugs and Kisses,

Mama