Why I Love My Children

Little Miss and I were baking in the kitchen the other day when she turned to me to have a little conversation with me. It took me awhile to follow where she was going, but my heart melted once I realized the way she was thinking.

As background, I've been doing a lot of baking lately for a variety of reasons - Irish soda bread for a meeting, brownies for a ladies night, banana bread just because, etc. Most of the time, the end results were meant for outside my family, so I didn't generally attempt to make them dairy free.

Mommy, it isn't fair if everything is always for me.

You're right, Peanut. Everyone deserves a turn - yep, totally unsure about where she's going with this.

I don't get to always have everything. Sometimes it's other people's turns. She turned and fixed me with a very serious look.

Why yes, sometimes it's your turn and sometimes it's someone else's. Now I'm preparing for an admission about something bad that happened in preschool.

It wouldn't be right if we only ever made things for me. Some of the things we make we want other people to eat, and so it's ok that we make lots of things that have dairy that I can't eat. It isn't always my turn to get what I want.

Oh! You're right, it isn't always your turn, but next time we make something, I promise I'm making it just for you!

What a little sweetie! Now if I could just get a few adults I know to have the same lightbulb moment.

How Long Will This Last?

This morning at breakfast, Mister Man paused with his fork part way to his mouth and a very serious look on his face.

Mister Man: Mom?
Me: Yes, Sweet Pea?
Mister Man: Next year, I want to use my money to buy some My Little Pony stuff.
Me: Really? Why next year?
Mister Man: When it's my birthday next year, I want to buy some My Little Pony stuff so that when it's my birthday I can give them to Little Miss so that she can have presents, too.

My heart melted, and I'm sure yours did, too. Granted, I grew up in a house where my mom always had the "birthday sister" who was also recognized and given presents and celebrated. I have serious reservations about this, as I feel like it contributed to a lot of sibling rivalry. We never learned that hey, it's not your day. You already had your day where we all focused on you. Now it's someone else's turn, and you should be happy for them and celebrate with them. That message was lost, and I don't want my wee ones to grow up with sibling rivalry.

However, when this is something that spontaneously comes from Mister Man, and it isn't even him buying her something that he wants to play with, I just hope that this attitude continues in perpetuity.

Even though shortly after breakfast, Mister Man grew frustrated with Little Miss while he was getting dressed and kicked her. So much for sustaining the love.