The kids leave their clothes all over the house. So, when I saw a pair of girl’s underwear crumpled on the floor in the hallway, I wasn’t surprised. But I was annoyed.
I yelled from the hallway, toward the general vicinity where I thought the children might be. “Who left their underwear on the hallway floor?”
Silence.
“Hello?”
Zaffy yelled back from somewhere far away. “Not me, Mom! I’m wearing mine!”
Zaffy: Mom, I had the worstest day ever.
Me: Oh no! Worse than the last worstest day ever? What happened?
Zaffy: I almost lost my three newest best friends.
Me: Tell me!
Zaffy: Well, my old-new best friend Sydney told my two newer best friends Brooke and Sophia, that I cut in line at the cafeteria. And they believed her!
Me: Well, did you cut in line?
Zaffy: No, I didn’t! I didn’t cut in line!
Me: Of course you didn’t. Is there more?
Zaffy: Yes. Then Brooke told the teacher that I was yelling and the teacher believed her and I got in trouble.
Me: Well, were you yelling?
Zaffy: Mom! No! I wasn’t yelling! <– she’s yelling here.
Me: Hmmm… you know, if I was accused of cutting in line when I didn’t cut in line, I might be pretty mad. I might feel like yelling.
Zaffy: Okay, I yelled. But I did it using my regular volume voice.
Mgazi is in bed. She’s been there for 30 minutes and she’s still not sleeping.
Mgazi: Mommy!
I don’t answer.
Mgazi: MOMMEEEEEE!
Me: Yes, Gaz? (Damn! I did it again. I gave in. Super Nanny says you should never answer them when they are calling to you from bed.)
Mgazi: Can you come?
Me: No, I’ll check on you later. (What the heck, Kris. Stop answering her. Remember your Super Nanny!)
Mgazi: But Mommy, I’m going to forget what I’m saying!
Silence from the bedroom for about 20 minutes, then…
Mgazi: Mommy! …. MOMMY! …. Awww, I already forgot what I said!
Zaffron has begun giving reasons why it isn’t time to go to
Zaffy's hair is actually soft and curly.
sleep at night. The other night, I tucked her in and was holding her hand when she said, “Ow, yesterday I bumped my elbow. I need ice.”
“No, Zaff. You don’t need ice. Go to sleep.”
“But I have a headache.. I need medicine. My stomach hurts.”
“No medicine. Close your eyes.”
“Mommy, I need a drink of water… just a little one.”
“Zaffron.” (My warning tone.)
She turned over and snuggled in. A couple of seconds went by when suddenly, she started patting her head. “Mommy,” she said, “My hair is rough.” She sat up in bed. “It’s too rough to go to sleep!!”
Putting Zaffron to bed one night, she asked if I could hold her hand. I said, “Sure, I’ll hold your hand for one minute.”
Zaffy protested, “But Daddy holds my hand for 30 seconds!”