Was doing a craft with my 5YO and asked where her scissors were and next thing I know our house is covered in sticky notes saying, "Where are my green scissors?" And "Find them!"
I was so distracted this morning that I didn't realize I was still in my pink and purple cloud cat pajama pants until I dropped my kiddo off at school. 🙈
Drawing of Rubble from PAW Patrol on a brown lunch bag saying, "Let's bow-wow build!"
Pretty proud of the Rubble I drew on my kid's lunch bag this morning tbh
Told 5YO we'd only watch 2 eps of TV, but fell asleep. Woke up and see intro playing. I think, "Oh no, it must be too many, I need to stop it," only to suddenly have my child's face in mine saying, "Shhh, shh, go back to sleep Mommy. It's fine." She even rubbed my shoulder. I let it slide. 🤣
Introduced my 5YO to DnD mechanics. When needing to cross the ocean, she tells me she wants to "sneak past it". No elaboration. I say, "Sure, but it'll be a hard roll. You have to get higher than an 18."
SHE GOT A NAT 20.
So now I was the fool who had to explain how she snuck past the ocean.
5YO is putting barrettes on her stuffed animals, but then says, "Oh, that one can't wear one because he is a boy. Only girls can."
So of course I push back and ask why boys can't.
She gives the most dramatic sigh in the world and says, "Mommy, some things are beyond our knowing."
Good to be home!! But low key mad I missed the warm spell in Minnesota. 😒
Thermostat set to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
I just got to this hotel and it's literally trying to roast me. I know I hate the cold, but this is too much, even for me. 🥵
Backpack open revealing a plush of a whale shark who looks adorable and happy to be here.
Flying with a friend. 🦈
That is cruel 😭
Eternally conflicted between
A) loving to visit different places and seeing people I haven't seen IRL in a while
And
B) detesting the act of traveling, in particular via plane
My 4YO this morning: "Wow, Mommy, look! Santa got me the doll you wouldn't get me at the store!!!" 🤣
Me at a restaurant trying to remind my child to say "thank you" to the waitress: "What do we say?"
My 4YO: "Good job!" 🫡👍
Sometimes you forget how innocent a child views the world until your almost 5YO asks you, "Are robbers real?" in a tone that indicates they very much do not think so.
My 4-year-old sits on the couch with me while I'm playing a game and asks, "Mommy, can I try?" I reply, "Yeah, of course!" I watch her play and miss a lot of jumps. She starts to apologize a lot: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I say, "You don't have to apologize. It's normal to make mistakes." She responds, "Nooo! I'm saying sorry to YOSHI!" On the TV, Yoshi is on fire and burning to a crisp in a pit of lava as she adds, "Sorry Yoshi!!!"
Comic 2,542! She's a very wholesome gamer. ;o;
Our 4YO has gotten into Pokemon and we got her a Pokemon "search and find" book.
She points to Vaporeon, exclaims, "That's me! I love water!" and then proceeded to pick up her water bottle and chug it like her life depended on it.
Drawing of a close-up of a strawberry plant with a single bite taken out of it. The next drawing shows me looking a little miffed as I say, "My strawberries were only worth a single bite, huh? Might as well have finished it...." In the next panel, all the strawberries are gone! In the next, a flower is dug out of the ground and upside down! I scream and ruffle through my hair in distress. I yell while I look at the garden carnage, "I didn't mean you could eat ALL of them!!! You even dug up my flowers?!"
Comic 2,541!
Me, before: "I don't mind if the animals eat one as a treat."
Me, now: "BETRAYAL!!! YOU'VE ABUSED MY TRUST!!!"
My 4YO comes up to me and says, "Mommy, can we play one more level before bed?" I shrug and answer, "Yeah, sure. How long could it take?" The next drawing shows my husband looking at us on the couch. He sys, "Why is she still up? Bedtime was an hour ago!" I grimace while our daughter cheerfully says, "It's the final boss, Daddy!" I nervously try to explain with, "I didn't realize it was the final level!!", "Or that it would take so long!", "If I stop now, we'll have to do it all over!" and finally, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN."
Comic 2,540! I committed and couldn't back out now!
Drawing of me cutting vegetables at the counter and asking my daughter, who is four, "Can you put the plates on the table for me, please?" She says, "Uh-huh!! I can help!" I begin to look confused, saying, "Huh? Uh... Where are you taking them?" She looks up also confused from the living room, holding the plates, and says, "Huh?" I reply, "The plates. You walked right past the table." She laughs and says, "Oh yeah! I don't know!" While I think to myself, "Oh no. She's already just like me!"
Comic 2,539! Like mother, like daughter.
Drawing of me in bed with a grumpy face as a certain voice yells, "Mommy! Momma! Momma! Mommy!" Once out of bed, I wearily ask my child, "Okay... WHY are we awake so early?" She asks cheerfully, "Can we play Kirby before school?!" I make a serious face and after grumbling some mental calculations....we do. We sit on the couch together in front of the TV. Next to me, she yells, "A bad guy! Get' em, Mommy, get 'em!!!" I reply, "I'm working on it!!! I need that treasure first, though."
Comic 2,538! An offer I couldn't refuse. 🙈
Drawing of our four year old wandering away from the table with her spoon during dinner. I sigh, and then say to my husband, "I LOVE how you're sitting so well at the table to eat, Daddy..." He replies, "Ohh, why, thank you." Our daughter stops what she's doing and RUNS back to her chair, yelling, "Wait! Waaaaait!" Once in her seat, she exclaims, "What about ME, Mommy?!?!" I say, "WOW, thank you so much for eating at the table AND sitting in your seat!" She yells happily, "YOU'RE WELCOME!!"
Comic 2,537! Praising someone else for behavior we want to see is also incredibly effective. 🤣
Drawing of my 4-year-old looking starry eyed as she says, "Oppossum moms carry their babies on their back like a BUS! I LOVE them!! They are my favorite!" Then while excitedly looking at a flower, she says, "A flower! Hummingbirds love red ones most. Did you know that?" Sneaking over the back of furniture, she then says, "Hey...do you wanna know about WEASELS? They're REAL animals, you know..." Finally, outside, she spots a bee. She points and yells, "This is a bee!! It's a pollinator! And makes honey!" I reply, "That's right! You sure know a lot."
Comic 2,536! Our daughter is entering her Animal Fact Era™️ and I love that for her.
I appreciate it ❤️❤️
Drawings accompanied by text. Text reads: "Our daughter once choked. The food got stuck in her esophagus. We never predicted in those days what it would lead to. Fear is not always rational. It cannot be bribed or washed away with logic. It can make the sweetest treats feel like poison. We have to disregard all those diet and food rules we were raised on. A good day is to eat at all, no matter what it is. We have to be clm, optimistic, and brave when she cannot. But often it can feel so isolating and draining. Like no one understands it except for us and a few doctors. We're watching others live their lives... while we feel stuck in a loop we can't escape."
Comic 2,535! This is by no means the Full Story of things that have been going on, but a piece of it. (And I obviously cannot speak to my daughter's perspective; only my own as a parent.)
Drawing starts with me telling my daughter, who is 4, "Mommy and Daddy feel a little sick, so we're just going to watch you play while we rest, okay?" She says cheerfully, "Uh-huh! You got it! I can play all by myself!" We start to drift off to the sound of her playing...only to suddenly be awoken by her yelling, "WATCH THIS!!! I'm a tiger! RAWR!!!!" as she leaps off the armrest of the couch on top of us.
Comic 2,534! Kids be like, "How long does it take grown-ups to feel better? Like a minute?"
Comic. In the first drawing, I see my 4-year-old throwing away her own trash. I say, "WOW, you threw away your own garbage! Thank you! That's a really big help to keep the house clean." She says, "You're welcome!" In the next drawing, I'm snuggling my daughter as I tuck her into bed. I say with a smile, "Thank you for playing with me today! I had so much fun." She smiles shyly and replies, "Heheh. You're welcome! I loved playing with you too." Then we're eating at the table when my daughter says, "Mommy, I LOVE the way you eat with your mouth closed." That's something I've praised her for! I laugh out a "thank you." Finally, while walking with her, I tell her, "You did a really job listening and following directions back there. I really appreciate it." She says, "You're welcome! Mommy, I feel good when you say that." I answer, "Yeah. I feel good when I help and am thanked too."
Comic 2,533! Noticing my child doing things right and thanking them for it has been the most rewarding thing in parenting for me. ♥️
Solidarity! 😂❤️
Shows me cleaning wildly: vacuuming, mopping, dishes, and more! James pops up looking thoughtful and says, "Yesterday was too overwhelming, but today you're a monster...what gives?" We stare at each other in silence for a minute. Then I finally admit, "I... I'm avoiding other tasks." (He replies, "Ah, that explains it.")
Comic 2,532! The saga continues in an inevitable way. 🥲 (But it looks like I did nothing since the clutter is still there rip)
The worst 😭
Comic. In the first panel, I'm exclaiming with a determined face, "I'm gunna do it!! I'll clean this WHOLE room!!!" Next panel shows me standing nervously in the room, surrounded by clutter and chaos. Then James pops his head out and says, "Huh? What happened? I thought you were going to clean." I collapse on the ground in despair and lament, "I was immediately overwhelmed when I realized the scope and gave up." James says, "Ah... that's fair. You know you should only do a bit at a time." I reply, "I both know and keep forgetting."
Comic 2,531! Logic: "A little goes a long way." My brain: "DO EVERYTHING OR IT'S A FAILURE!"
