This was what Terrance began to sing to Emily this evening, in response to one of her bazillion questions.
School starts on Thursday and it, frankly, can't get here soon enough. I mean the mood swings, the weeping, the snappishness....and then there is Emily's behavior.
Hah!
Upon describing my daughters overall persona to my mother this weekend, she shared that the two weeks before school started again was the time of year she seriously considered running away.
I completely know how she feels. It was a relief to go to work today simply to disentangle myself from my daughter.
For instance, a little vignette from my weekend....
I needed to rest on Friday. I had been awake for-evah and needed to just close my eyes. I announced that I was taking an hour to do this. Under no uncertain terms I declared this to be an hour Free of Child. Eye contact was made. Clarity of intent was communicated.
For good measure, I went to Emily's room and placed myself upon her bed. I closed my eyes. I breathed deeply. I know that she has no intention of coming into her OWN room. Oh no. She wants to be in MY room. I listen to the birds. I relax.
With a sixth sense which is uncanny, Emily senses the change in my brain waves. She creeps into the room. I am not quite asleep and can hear her approach. She assess the situation. I can feel her making a decision. Her hand shoots out and rubs my leg.
I don't move.
She rubs a little harder.
I don't move.
She pauses and stares at me. She is watching me breathe.
She makes her decision.
Unzipping her ViewMaster slide case ( but muffled - so I won't hear it), she removes the slides and begins to line them up the side of my body starting at my feet. One by one - edge to edge, she lines up the round disks on my body. She gets to my chest and shoves a couple into my yoga top, then covers my arm.
She steps back and assess her handiwork. She is pleased.
I consider leaping up and scaring the crap out of her. That would be funny. But I don't.
Instead I say from under my pillow:
"What exactly are you doing to my body?"
She starts to laugh. She is totally busted. She tries to pretend she is not in the bedroom TRYING to wake me up.
After several attempts at some lame story, she finally confesses. It was too quiet. She wanted me awake.
Yes. The realm of "annoying child" has been reached.
August 27, 2007 Gimlet Eye
School starts on Thursday and it, frankly, can't get here soon enough. I mean the mood swings, the weeping, the snappishness....and then there is Emily's behavior.
Hah!
Upon describing my daughters overall persona to my mother this weekend, she shared that the two weeks before school started again was the time of year she seriously considered running away.
I completely know how she feels. It was a relief to go to work today simply to disentangle myself from my daughter.
For instance, a little vignette from my weekend....
I needed to rest on Friday. I had been awake for-evah and needed to just close my eyes. I announced that I was taking an hour to do this. Under no uncertain terms I declared this to be an hour Free of Child. Eye contact was made. Clarity of intent was communicated.
For good measure, I went to Emily's room and placed myself upon her bed. I closed my eyes. I breathed deeply. I know that she has no intention of coming into her OWN room. Oh no. She wants to be in MY room. I listen to the birds. I relax.
With a sixth sense which is uncanny, Emily senses the change in my brain waves. She creeps into the room. I am not quite asleep and can hear her approach. She assess the situation. I can feel her making a decision. Her hand shoots out and rubs my leg.
I don't move.
She rubs a little harder.
I don't move.
She pauses and stares at me. She is watching me breathe.
She makes her decision.
Unzipping her ViewMaster slide case ( but muffled - so I won't hear it), she removes the slides and begins to line them up the side of my body starting at my feet. One by one - edge to edge, she lines up the round disks on my body. She gets to my chest and shoves a couple into my yoga top, then covers my arm.
She steps back and assess her handiwork. She is pleased.
I consider leaping up and scaring the crap out of her. That would be funny. But I don't.
Instead I say from under my pillow:
"What exactly are you doing to my body?"
She starts to laugh. She is totally busted. She tries to pretend she is not in the bedroom TRYING to wake me up.
After several attempts at some lame story, she finally confesses. It was too quiet. She wanted me awake.
Yes. The realm of "annoying child" has been reached.
August 27, 2007 Gimlet Eye
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