In the heat of the moment I find the following examples of Kaeley's precociousness incredibly insulting to the goal of my parenting and maddening beyond belief. Now that she is currently sleeping and I have been out of the battle for a few hours, or days, I find them rather endearing.
I've mentioned this before, but this little child of mine has told a mother at Disneyland that her child didn't have to smile at his mother's camera if he didn't want to. Oh, the embarrassment! I now know the fear of an uprising. One day it will be Kaeley who uses her God-given ability of Independence and compassion to lead a revolt of the children. Parents will have to go into hiding from the little buggers and I will be in the book of what-not-to-do again for the safety of all parentkind.
Well, my insecurity digresses.
At a Thanksgiving dinner Kaeley served herself. She is more than welcomed to do this, but she must eat all she serves herself. This particular meal she was more interested in the activity of cousins rather than eating a cooked bird. She was warned that if she didn't finish her plate she would not be allowed to enjoy dessert. Well, dessert came and we all know what happened. "Mommy, can I have some dessert?" I told her to ask her dad. I enjoy passing the baton of Boss when Brad's at home. She asks him the same question. He says, "Did you finish your dinner?" Kaeley hems and haws and begins to move her eyes back and forth. She looks like the retro black cat clock with shifty eyes. She finally answers, "Well, I ate some of it." He responds, "That's not what I asked you, Kaeley." More shifting of the eyes. "What did Mommy tell you?" Kaeley: "She said, 'You don't get dessert unless you finish your plate'." Brad: "And did you finish your plate?" Kaeley: "I said I finished some of it." Brad: "Did you eat all your dinner or not?" After a moments thought she piped up happily, "Both!"
She had a small dessert partly because it was Thanksgiving, and partly because we were so impressed with her answer, but don't tell her I said that!
Last weekend a friend of mine had a make-up party. I wanted to spend time with Kaeley, who wanted to watch a movie with the guys, so I bribed her with the idea of having her own make-up. After I said no, I would not buy her make-up if she watched television with the guys, she decided to come. She said she completely understood that this was a special only-in-the-house make-up. I heard many, "Yes, Mommy. I will only wear it in the house! I promise!" We found a pink blush which she brushes all over her eyelids and cheeks and ends up looking quite flushed. She loves it.
Well, it was time to go to church. She gets all dressed-up in her Christmas dress and "high-heeled" shoes (heels that are half an inch high), and says, "I'll be ready to go right after I do my eyes!" Once reminded that the make-up was for in the house only she looks away, looks back up at us, and says, "But I am in the house!" Nice try.
Oh, my child.
For the past couple of weeks I have been experimenting with allowing her to have short naps. It gives us time to do more serious crafts that aren't Nathan-tolerant, like making necklaces, painting. Or she plays Barbies. She might bake with me. It's great, because she is able to separate herself from the babies. However, after a couple of good hours I begin to see the sweet girl turn more and more into a sassy, bossy meanie head who is incapable of following the simplest of instructions. She flinches when I raise my voice to her. She throws herself against the wall if I take her by the shoulder to lead her out of my way.
Yesterday she had a no nap at all. She read quietly in my bed for an hour while I spent my nap in the living room as I usually do. She and I baked a couple of dishes before Nathan woke up. After several warnings to "Be nice", "Stop bossing your brother around", and "Kaeley, why are you choosing to disobey?" I put her in time-out. She comes out promising to turn over a new leaf and be sweet.
She wants to watch television and I say, as usual, "Sure. Right after you do some school work." A new reading curriculum had just arrived in the mail, so I took that out. It's a very cute program. Kaeley sharpened her pencil, sat down on the chair, looked at the incredibly easy worksheet that was expected of her and flat out said, "I'm not going to do this!" That's when I very calmly pulled her chair out and answer with the same flat and calm tone of voice, "Good night."
Here comes a new day. I know the Lord's mercies are new every morning, but I am not the Lord. When it was nap time Kaeley looked up at me sweetly and nicely asked, "Mommy, can I have a short nap?" I regretfully told her that due to her downward behavior when she doesn't get enough sleep it just isn't worth it to me. Hopefully she looks up at me and says, "I promise I'll be good." I answered, "Good, Honey. Good night."
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