Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

As promised:

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As soon as I hustled her into some light for a picture she knew exactly where she was going, “When you put me on your blog you can write Princesses are rich!”  This was because she was clutching her wallet full of dough.  Here she is:

You might be thinking, “So she’s a little disheveled, she’s FINE!”
It really doesn’t matter what any of us think, because she knows she’s FANTASTIC.  I would like to point out the stains above “Dreamy” and the foam letter “P” above the “a” that, for some inexplicable reason, she put on.  You might be saying, “Fiffle!  Faffle!  And it looks like her socks matched.”
Well, you would be wrong.  “Can you see my kitty?’ She asked while I was taking this shot.  Oh yeah.

Here is where Jackie Boy chewed on her shoe, but never mind.  She certainly didn’t.

I tried to do a close up so you could see the dirt on her coat, but it wouldn’t play.  Bottom line, the kid’s adorable.  I mean look at that gorgeous jaw.  “You mean jowl?”  Her father asked.  Yes.

I did let her go out like this although I combed her hair and put a barrette in it, because that’s just what we do.  

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“Mama, do you like being how old you are now?”

I am 37.
“Yes.” I said. This might be a prevarication.  Sue me. 
“Do you like being how old you are now?”  I asked.
“Yes.” She said.
“What do you like about being five?”
“It’s good and fun.  I just like it.”

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Day 12 – Not over yet!

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Eden and I are both sporting name tags that she made out of post it notes.  I had to spell my names for her.  She wanted all of them.  I dropped my original middle name (9 letters) and gave her my maiden one (5 letters) instead.  Three names took some serious time.  She can’t write all her letters, so I had to make her a little template several times.

She was satisfied with only her first name for her name tag and has placed it on Jack’s ear because she doesn’t want him to forget her.  He’s passed out on the floor.  
Oh now she is wanting to make one for him.
You might have noticed that the only creature who ISN’T stirring is the dog.
This might be a cry for help.

Good Mother

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There are times that I wonder if my colleagues have secret meetings without me and schedule our days so that at all times, at least one of them, is misbehaving.  I’ve never actually come across the little planners I picture, but I won’t be surprised if I ever do.

Now, as regular readers know, we have a heavy lifter, if you will, someone who carries the bulk of the naughty behavior, but even a work horse needs a break and then one of the little fillies is right there with a whole new twist.   
The other night at bedtime, Eden must have had “Push Mom to the limit” in pen in her planner.  I won’t give you the gory details.  Suffice it to say she was naughty, repeatedly.  I stayed calm and firm and took away some privileges, which ticked her off.  She was screaming and yelling blame at me, as I tucked her in, kissed her and left the room.  Sweet dreams.
I was done with her.  Had the gypsies happened by at that moment I would have gladly packed her suitcase and carried it out to the caravan, so it’s good that they didn’t.   I went and sat on my bed.  She continued to scream and yell.  I practiced breathing.  In the repeated exhalation and inhalation some of the anger was released and a little compassion came in it’s place.  It stinks to fall asleep crying, blaming someone else for your unhappy situation that, if you’re honest, you know is your own fault. 
I went back in and asked Eden if she wanted to pray.  She said she didn’t know what to say.  I said I thought she did and waited.  She prayed and asked God to forgive her and then she apologized to me and I forgave her and then I told her to roll over so I could scratch her back and while I did that I sang a soft song that I’ve been singing to her since before she was born. Any of the tightness remaining eased and I felt her relax.
The song ended, but I continued to stroke and scratch her back.  
“Does that feel better?”  I asked.
She turned her head and whispered, “It’s like we’re making a movie, but we didn’t get it right the first time, so we get to make it again.”
Yes.  I’m just learning this myself, but that’s exactly how it is.