The Scene: Bath Tub, 20 minutes ago.
PD: "No mommy, I do not want my hair washed. No. No. No. No. No. I'm not going to let you do it. No."
Me: Sigh. "I need to wash your hair. You didn't get it washed last night or the night before last. Plus, you have spaghetti in it." (Thinks for a moment, how in the world did she get spaghetti in her hair? Sigh)
PD: "No. I don't want any shampoo on my hair. No. No. I just won't let you and that is final."
At this point, I'm exasperated. How dare she tell me what is final. I am the adult. The mother. Did I ever mention that I don't do so well in the evening hours? By that time, any amount of patience I had in reserve has been spent. I'm tired and I just want my children to be in bed asleep. I have no fight left in me and have no problem with big threats like taking away a plethora of toys and privileges. I know, I have a mean streak.
Me: "You have no choice. Now, slide your bottom over here to this side of the tub or you are going to bed without story time and I'm taking away "kitty" for the night. Your hair is dirty and gross. It is getting washed now and that is final." (Far be it that someone other than me should get the last word.)
PD: Aghast with horror - "I am not gross! I am beautiful. God made me beautiful. You always tell me that. Why did you call me gross? How can you do this to me?"
You think I make this stuff up don't you? You're thinking, surely this mother exaggerates, because these cannot be the words of a four-year-old. Go ahead. Think it. I won't blame you. That's what I'd be thinking if I read it on someone else's blog. But I promise, I type only what my own ears heard.
Me: Sigh. "I did not call you gross. I called your hair gross because it has food in it. Hair that has food in it is gross, even if it is beautiful hair. Now get over here!"
PD: Sliding closer to me, but not ready to let go of the battle. "My hair is mine. It is special to me. If you call my hair gross, you call me gross. That is not nice to call my hair gross or me gross. My hair..."
Me: (After dumping lots of water on her head to rinse out the shampoo) "Enough!" "I get it. Your hair is now clean. It's beautiful and not gross."
PD: "Thank you. But it never was gross. Are you sorry for calling it gross?"
Me: "You can play for five minutes and then it's time to get out."
PD: "Bu.."
Me: ..."One more word and you're getting out now and going straight to bed."
I pretend not to hear her muttering "Fine, but I'm not gross."
If parenting were graded, I'm afraid I'd get a D- on this assignment.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
More Hair Drama
Posted by Angela Nazworth at Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Labels: X-factor
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9 comments:
I'm so there with you on this one! By 5 pm I am just wiped out. My oldest LOVES to have the last word on everything...it drives me nuts most of the time.
Oh this made me laugh! Were you really as calm as it sounded? I'm not sure whether I would have laughed or cried. Admit it: you took a just a little pleasure in dumping the water over her head, didn't you?!
A is for Attitude and D is for Drama!
Get a good night's sleep and eat your Wheaties for breakfast!!
And the Academy Award for Best Actress in an On-going Drama goes to...Xylie Nazworth!!! She is too much! I'm thinking I may have gotten lucky by having a boy, way less drama! I think you handled the situation great, I give you an A+...I mean you could've just pinched her nose shut and dunked her! I think that shows great patience. Love ya, Mer
That Xylie is cracking me up tonight! You will have to have this blog made into a book for her when she has her first baby. When she calls you complaining, you can say, "Honey, turn to page 45 of your All the Naz book to find a similar story." LOL
That great personality channeled with accomplish great things one day.
BTW, I do not think you earned a D- at all. You stayed so gentle with her. I don't have your great patience. I would have told her daddy to come take over b/c I had enough. You're such a great mom!
Well, Linda...I was tempted to splash water on her face, but restrained myself. There definitely was some irritation in my voice toward the end. But mainly I stayed so calm due to the guilt I had left over from totally losing my cooler earlier today when she was screaming for me to let her use a marker. I believe my exact words were..."Get away, get away from me now!" Yeah, I got an F on that one.
That is funny!!! Girl, she is a MESS. PaPa used to call me a "Mell of a Hess".....I think this could be applicable to Xylie also!!
I think you handled it all great. I would have just dunked Lane. And you know, that would have been okay too.
I'd have done the same thing, I give you an A. And in some ways, good for her to believe the truth of her beauty so thorougly, even though her application of it was a little out of place. :) It will hopefully serve her well through adolescence!
My "meanie" comes out by about 4:30! :)
Thanks for sharing the drama. Makes me feel right at home! :)
She is too cute and sassy and smart, too! I just love your conversations!
Oh, and I am too exhausted to deal with too much drama by the end of the day.
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