We’re doing the two steps forward, one step back hokey pokey over here these days. Townes is in full miner mode. As in, “Mine! NOOOOOO Daisy! Mine! That’s mine! MIIIIIIIINE!” Oh, it’s awesome, it is. We are doing our best to teach him the concept of sharing (a concept, mind you, that is fundamentally far beyond a two-year-old’s intellectual grasp). It’s tricky. He’s at the age where he can articulate his thoughts with clarity and precision, and his language skills are advanced to a degree that it’s easy to be lulled into thinking he has a more grown-up understanding of community property. Mistake, dopey mom. Little man is not prepared to share. He is bewildered and frustrated by my pathetic appeals to his better side. He’s two! He doesn’t have sides.
We have made some progress. Whereas Townes used to respond with an anguished half-wail of “AGGGGH! NO! Daisy!" as soon as her pudgy little paws latched on to his beloved matchbox car collection, now he is just as likely to bare his teeth in her direction--it’s a not unintimidating feral little grimace--while involuntarily opening and closing his little fists and lunging at her, all the while repeating breathlessly through gritted teeth, “Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.” It’s not exactly impulse control, but he’s giving it a shot. I feel you, little man. He is trying - doing everything in his power to please me while attempting to stamp down every fiber of his tiny animal self. That little inner voice is crying out for him to GET. THOSE. CARS. BACK. I’m so proud of him for (mostly) keeping the “Mine” demons at bay.
We spent some time this weekend for Daisy’s birthday with Papa and Meema and the cousins in Arizona. Everyone keeps reminding us that we need to try and enjoy these moments with D and T right now because they’ll be packing their bags and off to college before we know it. That may be true, but it’s difficult when you are in the day-to-day of life to stop and reflect on these precious moments. And then a birthday hits and mama just wants to curl up with a glass of wine and sob into her Pinot while humming “Coat of Many Colors” and “Wind Beneath My Wings” to herself. Yep. That’s who I have become. Not so different than I was when I was single only then it was many glasses of wine and I was humming Iron & Wine or The Postal Service. Thank goodness this is way more fun. For reals.
Happy birthday little Day. You are a bright, giggly, shiny penny of a girl and I love it when you burrow yourself into me like a cuddly little puppy. You make mama smile every day, and your sweet, easy-going, intent dark brown eyes hurt my heart a little if I look too long into them. You are our baby sunny bug and I am in awe of your daredevil spirit. I’m lucky to know ya and feel privileged to watch you become a young lady. Kisses, little one.
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