Dream: Mommy asks me to get dressed and put on my coat, hat, and mittens. So I do. Mommy wants me to eat green vegetables. So I do. Mommy asks me to help clean up my toys. So I do. Mommy asks for a hug and kiss. How can I ever say no to Mommy?
Reality: It’s time for my play date with Sebastian so Mommy and I start getting ready and Mommy says we need to put on our coats. No coat! Why is Mommy trying to make me so hot and uncomfortable? I dash into my room and shut the door. Ha! But Mommy figures out how to open the door (I must say, she does it much faster than I can) and scoops me up. I start screaming at the top of my lungs and make noises I didn’t know could come out of an Elle Belle. Mommy quietly tells me she is going to wear her coat and that I should wear my coat, too. Why didn’t she say that in the first place? If it’s good enough for mommy, it’s good enough for me. We put on my coat. That was easy!
We are all suited up, but then the worst thing happens. Mommy wants me to go in my stroller. The nerve! I say, Elle walk and push stroller, signaling for my baby’s stroller. Mommy says we have to go far and I need to sit in my stroller. But I only want to walk. Mommy attaches a snack cup to my stroller and puts baby in the seat. Tempting, but no luck. I say, Elle walk. Mommy must remember my violent protest the last time she tried to get me in the stroller against my wishes because she makes me promise to walk holding her hand or pushing my own baby stroller. I agree. Everyone loves a good compromise.
We arrive at Sebastian’s house and I have so much fun on my play date that, when it’s time to go, I do not want to clean up and leave. What is this nonsense about overstaying our welcome? I tell Mommy to go and say, Elle stay. Mommy says we will all clean up and then the two of us will go home together. No way! Planting myself firmly on the floor, I show Mommy I am staying put. I put on a performance that deserves an Oscar for best actress. Eventually, I (unwillingly) leave and we walk home holding hands, marching and singing. That was actually quite fun!
Once home, it’s time for dinner. Mommy attempts to put me in my high chair but I want to sit in Mommy’s chair. Mommy tells me it is for Mommy, but that is exactly why I want to sit in it. Then Mommy puts some yummy food on my high chair tray and I am suddenly motivated to sit in my chair. Once seated, she adds some broccoli to my tray. Can you believe I used to love broccoli? Mommy still thinks I like it and tries to give it to me with dinner quite often. To make a statement, I toss the broccoli on the floor. Mommy reminds me that I should tell her when I am done and not throw food. I know the rules but isn’t broccoli an exception? I am done before it even hits my high chair tray. (And puppy likes it! He likes anything I give him. I can only imagine what his food tastes like. Poor puppy.)
Realizing I am thirsty, I ask for water. Mommy hands me my sippy cup. I look at it and decide, nope. So, I say, Mommy’s cup. Mommy says it is her cup and I have my cup. I toss my sippy cup. Mommy says if I do it again I won’t get it back. Great. I toss it knowing I won’t get it back and hope I get a more grown-up cup. I ask again for Mommy’s cup. It finally registers and Mommy gets me a real cup. None of that sippy cup crap. Cheers to my big girl cup!
We finish dinner and I sneak to a quiet corner to take care of business. Mommy is omnipresent and immediately senses my dirty diaper. So I start running away from my diaper change. But Mommy gleefully says it is bath time. Score! I run right into Mommy’s arms but it was a trap to get me changed. How did I miss that? So I make the diaper change as hard as possible by squirming around while I anticipate splashing into the bath. Yippee!
After bath time, I say, Mommy jammies and pick out her jammies. And then I pick out my matching ones. Mommy obliges and we look fab.
I like to keep Mommy on the edge of her seat, but I know she is doing what is best for me and I love her for it. I am just doing my best to keep her challenged along the way!
