There were a few times today I thought I was going to lose my mind. Andrew left early this morning on a business trip so that meant it was all me all day with the sweeties.
I’ve done it plenty of times before – it’s not that it’s hard or anything – it’s just that it wears me and my sanity out – especially when our little princess doesn’t take her afternoon nap. No nap means the princess’ evil twin comes out to whine, talk back, throw fits and rip toys from her baby brother’s fingers. I asked her several times today where my sweetie was and if I could have her back. A simple nap would have found that sweetie.
That’s the Nia who says “Oh, Thank You” with such grownup sincerity when I tell her I love her. The Nia who makes silly faces just to make me laugh. The Nia who wraps her little arms around my neck and says “I love my momma.” Who sings to Nate to make him stop crying. Who recites the words to Willy Wonka (specifically when Violet turns into a blueberry, she loves the line the dad cries out at the end of the scene “I’ve got a blueberry for a daughter!) – sings the “ah, ah, ah” part of the Little Mermaid – loves the song “Close to You” by the Carpenters and makes us sing that to her each night before bed – calls gymnastics “ba-nastics” – calls my mom “honey” instead of grandma – tells everyone “Momma did it” when I cut her bangs way too short – who says “sure” when I ask her to do something.
She’s just such a happy, helpful, loving child for the most part and that’s why it’s really hard to handle anything but our normal Nia. Don’t get me wrong, even when she’s unbearable because she hasn’t had a nap, she’s still sweet. When she sees we’re getting mad she says a phrase Andrew and I have both now come to hate – “I wanna listen.” I know it seems silly – it’s such an innocent comment – but imagine a fake cry voice saying that over and over and over and over and over again after you’re already upset about something. It’s kind of extreme but Andrew and I are so sick of hearing it he’s actually tried to tell her that was a bad thing to say and wasn’t nice!!!! Has it worked? Nope. The whole thing is just so silly. It kind of goes like this.
Me/Andrew – “Did you just hit/push/steal that toy from your brother?” (This can be replaced with any other action she should be questioned about.)
Nia – “No.”
Us – “Don’t lie Nia – Why did you do that? That wasn’t nice.”
Nia – “I wanna listen.”
Us – “Ok. You need to be nice. How would you like it if someone treated you that way?”
Her – “No! I wanna listen.”
Us – “Ok. That’s enough Nia.”
Her- “But I wanna listen.”
Us – “Stop saying it Nia!”
Her – “But I wanna listen.”
Us – “Say it again and it’s time out.”
Her – quietly “But I wanna listen.”
AH! (That’s me now!) I know this probably sounds awful – but after hearing it so much and sometimes for no reason at all, it just wears on us. Today I had to go through it all probably five times. I finally got to the point that I was like, “Uh-huh, great, listen.” And would you believe that actually worked! She didn’t repeat it!
Despite all of the battles that happened today because she didn’t have a nap, we made it through the day with quite a few fun moments (her thinking our dog Joey would like his food better if it was drowning in his water bowl/us playing games and puzzles while Nate took them apart for us/us cuddling in the rocking chair as we watched Aladdin) and in typical Nia fashion – it all ended preciously. When I came back from putting Nate to bed I saw her catching flies – fast asleep on the couch hugging her stuffed elephant. Although at one point today I was wishing for her just to go to sleep, I was sad I didn’t get to tell her I loved her and hear her say it back to me. I guess that’s what parenthood is all about – one minute you’re ready for silence, the next you feel like something is missing – and it is – the sound of sweeties.
Night-night Nia. I love you so very much.
Zonked on the Couch
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