Last night was almost completely tantrum-free. Lots of whining, but really only one minor meltdown over some much-desired Ni Hao Kai-Lan band aids.
I think I figured out for sure that the major contributor to her meltdowns is picking up on my stress. After work, I took advantage of the fact that her daycare is minutes away and is open until 6:30, and went home and did chores for 20 minutes. I did a load of laundry, did the dishes, and watered the flowers, before jumping in the car to pick her up. Then, for dinner, we had pasta (what's simpler to cook than that?) so for the most part, I was relaxed. And miraculously, so was she!
I may need to make a habit of this! I always feel guilty picking her up closer to closing time, but yesterday I rationalized it by telling myself that I'm PAYING them to be there until 6:30, so if I pick her up at 6:20, it's not a bad thing. Even if she is the last kid there. It's worth it for her to have a happy Mommy when she gets home.
As of now, my kitchen is clean. My flowers are watered. My laundry, as of 8:15 this morning, is DONE! (Well, the last 2 loads need to be folded and put away, but at least the clothes are all clean!) Bonus points for Scott getting home last night at 10:30pm instead of 2:30am and for me being in bed before Midnight. I actually got some sleep! Things are looking up.
Angelica and I had some adorable moments last night, too. After her bath, we were getting ready to read stories when she said, "Go show kitty funny face?" (Usually if Scott and I are both home, whoever doesn't do her bath gets to see "funny face" after her bath is over...I guess kitty was a good replacement.)
The rest of it went a little like this:
Me: "Okay, but come right back!"
Her: "Okay, Mommy!" ::runs down the hall, I hear her "showing" the kitty her funny face, which sounds a little like "Mlllahhhwwwhhhh!" She runs back down the hall, "Do again, okay Mommy?"
Me: "Okay, but come right back!"
Her: "Okay!" Shows kitty funny face, comes back, asks to go again.
Repeat 10x
Then she didn't ask me for permission. She just ran down the hall. So I yelled after her, "Uh oh! You didn't ask Mommy!"
I hear her stop in the hallway. She yells back, "I SHOW KITTY FUNNY FACE, OKAY MOMMY? I BE RIGHT BACK!"
I say okay, I hear her go show the kitty her funny face again, and then come back.
It was probably cuter in real life :)
Also, she started counting, and all of a sudden just broke into, "One, two, buckle MY shoe! Three, four, shut the Door! Five, six, pick up sticks! Seven, eight, lay them straight, nine, ten, a big fat HEEENNNNNNNNN!" I didn't even know she knew that nursery rhyme. It was wonderful. This is a girl who LOVES to sing, and I love to hear her sing.
Except that one time she was singing a Kings of Leon song in the car (I'm a big fan, but the song was not exactly appropriate for my 2 year old to sing!)
Speaking of her hamming it up...Angelica loves to see herself on TV! Whenever we go to Target, the security television on the way in is the main attraction. She will ask to, "Go Target, see Angelica TV? Please?"
Add "actress" and "singer" to the list of possible future careers for this one!
1 comment:
Of course she picks up on your stress. She has been literally and figuratively attached to you her entire life. She can see it in your face, hear it in your voice and feel it in your muscles when you pick her up and hug her.
Your little calm down ritual is exactly what you need. Somehow you have to leave work at work and when you hit the door of the day care be only Angelica's Mommy.
And I think everything she does is cute. Well, not the tantrums but, everything else.
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