Growing up on her own time.

There are times that I worry that my Bee-baby is…a little milktoast. Not that the child isn’t stubborn, because goodlord she is! But I just haven’t seen with Bee the same flair for independence that her sister has always had in abundance. I try to just brush it off and let Bee be who she is and not who anyone else is. Most of the time that’s where it ends. Other times – like last night – I don’t have any worries at all.

I think she was confused because when I picked the children up, I told them their dad and I had “switched.” Now, I’m pretty sure I said immediately afterwards that I would have the girls for dinner on Dad’s nights (Monday and Wednesday) and he would have them on my nights (Tuesday and Thursday). See? Switched. Unfortunately, sometimes little children turn their ears off and fill in their own explanation. And Bee’s explanation of “switched” was that the girls were having dinner at our house and spending the night with their dad. Except, no. No they were not.

When Bee found out she was a trifle upset (if trifle means so upset her head almost popped off).

Me: I’m sorry, you’re not going to Dad’s tonight. You’re sleeping here.
Bee: No. I’m not.
Me (slightly celebrating inside the independence, but mostly cringing at the No-ness of it all): I’m sorry. Put your pajamas on.
Bee: Well, I’m just gonna walk to Dad’s house.
Me: I would be sad if you left.

I walked out of the room at that point because, really, children shouldn’t see that you’re happy they’re rebelling. It’s kind of negative training. But Bee wasn’t done. Nope, she had one more thing to say to my retreating back:

Bee: Whatever, Mom. You’d still have Gracie. That is one child, Mom.

See? Showing off her logic and her math skills all at once. She wasn’t bitter, she was just problem-solving. She could go to dad’s and have her own way, and I couldn’t be sad because, clearly, I wouldn’t be alone.

Yep. She might be taking her own sweet time growing up, but she’s gonna get there. Just as soon as she makes up her mind she wants to.

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Tags: parenting, pre-schoolers