Today, at pick up, I was greeted by Molly's teacher who was shaking her head, but smiling. The kids had just come in from the playground, and I was waiting for them at the room. Ms Latrice is laughing as she sees me, and says "this one, this one is a Houdini..." Me "Who are you telling? What did she do this time?" Ms Latrice "Well she got out of the locked and latched gate at the playground, and I thought I had lost her until I saw her trotting off towards the parking lot. Nearly gave me a heart attack." Me "Yeah, I took them to the children's museum yesterday, and she scared me a few times as well." Ms Latrice "Well, I thought I was going to have to turn in my resignation...first time I have ever lost one." Me "If it makes you feel any better, I would have told them it wasn't your fault..."
Seriously, that girl will be the reason I have a heart attack before I am 45. She is sneaky and smart, a horrible combination for a parent. I simply can't wait for the teen years. I have no idea what to do with her sometimes. She has a tendency to wander off if she isn't in a stroller, but she has to be out of the stroller for playdates and stuff like the zoo and Children's Museum. She has no appropriate fear of getting lost. I have punished with time outs, spankings, and plenty of scolding, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. I have thought about using a toddler leash, but I am pretty sure she would do exactly what my cat used to do when placed on a leash. Lay down on the ground, refuse to stand, and become what could only be called a giant dust mop. She scares me sometimes. I know it is good for her to be curious, and figure out how things work, but it would be so nice to relax a little when we are out in public. I am always on full alert until my kids pass out for the night, and back on as soon as they wake up. Just once, it would be nice not to have to wonder "what is Molly doing now?" I have been told by my father, that Molly is a tiny little version of me. Apparently, I was a houdini escape artist and always destroying things as well. He has told me that my mother is in Heaven, looking down, and laughing her butt off at me. I suppose Molly may just be proof that karma exists, and that parents really can wish a "child just like you" on their children. Until then, Molly will keep my hair stylist employed by continuing to cause gray hairs, and assure that my doctor's children have money for college by increasing my blood pressure :)
We did the leash thing with Jeff. he liked to hid inside circular racks at department stores. He hated the leash for a while, Charlene stuck to her guns, and he finally realized it was no go or go with the leash. Of course, the well-meaning moms who castigated Charlene for treating our child like a dog weren't helpful -- but since they obviously had never had a child like ours, we chalked it up to their complete inexperience (with runaway children) and general rudeness (to upbraid complete strangers).
ReplyDeleteAgreed that complete strangers will totally overstep their boundaries. I hate how people seemingly judge you or offer advice that was never asked for. I have used the leash in the past with Colin, and I have to admit, I was hesitant to do so, but we were headed to Disney World, and I refused to let my pride be the reason I lost my baby. I have it hanging on a hook next to the front door, right next to the dog leashes :) I am not above using it if needed, I just know Molly will not take well to it at all, and I am wondering if the fight is worth it at this point.
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