Mom Talk

On the way to the sitter’s today, my daughter noticed a Highlights magazine in the back of one of the car seats and wanted me to hand it to her.

“I can’t, I have to keep my eyes on the road. Besides I gave all but those two to Lorie so you and Lily could look at them together while you’re there.” (Lorie is the baby sitter.)

Little did I know, I was opening Pandora’s box.

“Why!!!” she whined and started to cry. “It’s not fair that you gave them all to her and only kept two for me.” She was truly distraught. “I want them baaaack!”

“You hadn’t touched them in a month. It was time to get rid of them,” I replied. Trying to keep my cool.

“But I would play with them now,” she said.

Suddenly, my strategy became clear.

“Remember I told you we had to get rid of some stuff to make room for your Christmas presents? Those books were part of what we got rid of.” She’s still crying.

“If you really want them back, I can take all your Christmas toys back to the store and then get the books back.”

“Even the cupcake maker?” she sniffled.

“Oh, definitely,” I knew I had her now.

“I don’t love you anymore!” she moaned.

“That’s okay, I still love you. I think you love me but you’re just mad that you can’t have the books and your Christmas presents.” The wailing stopped but I still heard quiet sniffling.

By the time we got to Lorie’s, she was calm. I asked if they could look at the Highlights today and of course, that was fine. Crisis forgotten. As a side note, I think I’m raising a packrat.