The Power Trip

It's a continual battle, isn't it? A battle between a mature adult and a clever child. They always seem to have the upper hand. And then the battles seem so silly. Eat your yogourt...that's the headline for the morning. If she'd only realize that the quicker she ate it, the more time we'd have to play before L wakes up. But no, she doesn't want to listen..."I don't like it", "there are nuts in it and it's crunchy", "I just don't want it." The excuses pile up. Which is so funny since she agreed to eat the yogourt (which does not have nuts in it). She does this all the time. I ask does she want something, she says yes, then doesn't eat it. I transcend my mother's voice..."There are starving children all around the world, you know." She thinks the world is an endless compost bin and it's acceptable to waste food. Being from the big pants family, I remember these conversations...but it was usually after not eating my veggies, which I see the value in today. And maybe she is full...but I know when she was eyeballing her snack, she wanted it (cheese & crackers trumps yogourt apparently).

It seems so silly to argue over such things. I have to remember, it's not the yogourt...it's that she's not listening. She's trying to stand her ground, push the boundaries, and I don't do very well with disobedience. I like to think I have a lot of patience but E knows just what buttons to push to set me off. Then I turn into the ugly parent I never wanted to be. I really see the value in a parenting course. I think it would teach me more patience. I think a few extra hours sleep would do wonders too. It's hard enough being up with L at night but after I get her down, I have trouble sleeping. I've decided to try giving up TV in the night. It's what I'm doing for Lent (Happy Ash Wednesday). Maybe less TV at night will help me wind down quicker. And who knows, I may even pick up one of the books that have been sitting on my shelf for 5 years.

Well, I better get back to the little Queen. We're heading out this a.m. to visit my work. They are curious to see L again since I don't think we've been in since her birth. Plus, they love seeing E too. Wish me luck on our misadventures.
~B