Saturday, September 26, 2015

Bedtime Bananas




My crazy daughter at bedtime tonight. I like that finally after 15 minutes, she sat down to rest and play. 

Deep in the Valley of "No"

"Miriam, do you want a cheesestick?"
"No."
"Do you need the potty?"
"No!"
"Do you want to read a book?"
"No!"
"Let's put on your shirt!"
"NO."
"Time to get in the chariot."
"Nope."
"What's in your hand?"
"Noooooooo."
"Do you want an ice pop?"
"Nononononononono."
"Miriam, bedtime!"
"No mama no mama HAAAAAAALP."


Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Musical theatre - Another useful parenting skill.

Miriam has had a few good nights of sleep, and let me tell you that really spoils us. So last night, when she was fussy (we were all fussy, if I'm honest. Even Zachary struggled to get to sleep), we all slept badly, and the morning was shenanigans. Not yelling shenanigans, just forgetting things, not getting it together, out of rhythm. And Miriam was real up in her feelings. No, she didn't want pants. No, she definitely didn't want shoes. No, she was quite happy with her dirty diaper thanks for asking. No, she didn't want her helmet (here is where you know there is trouble, because most days she would sleep in her helmet given half the chance...).

Finally she just looked up at me with the saddest frantic kitten eyes and I scooped her up and sang her a song. I sang about having a snuggle with mommy. I sang about putting on our shoes to keep our toes safe. I sang about putting on our helmets to get into the chariot to go see our friends in the Owl Class. I sang about how much fun school was.

And she gave me a hug, and a kiss, and bounced off to start her day.

Thank you, years of musical theatre, I owe you one.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Five Statements

We were chatting at dinner tonight about family, and Miriam being the littlest Collins, and not having any more siblings (Sorry kids, that's a wrap.) And Zachary cackles and goes "So she has to do the five statements forever!"


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And after a lengthy pause Mark turned to me and goes "I think he means the four questions."

MY SON IS THE BEST.


(ETA - The four questions are sung at passover, usually by the youngest capable child present. They are questions based around "Why is this night different from every other night?" and as far as I can tell were created to torture youngest siblings the world over.)