This weekend Audrey and I had our first Mother-Daughter meltdown moment of awesomeness.
All over Scott's home made Valentine.
Scott loves the idea of making Valentines from the heart, which is all fine and good and has meant a lot over the years but this year I was a little too ambitious for my own good.
I found the most adorable picture on Pinterest (of course) of a little girl holding an XOXO banner. This little girl is NOT two years old I have determined because no parent of a two-year-old could get such a fabulous shot. I have deemed it impossible.
Let me start this story by saying Audrey has found a new bestie - TIME OUT. She visits time out often over simple things like wearing socks, a jacket, or trying to throw her potty chair around the bathroom. Let me also say I have read the parenting chapter on giving kids choices so that any option is okay in the end.
Me: Audrey, do you want to wear pink socks or purple socks?
Audrey: NO SOCKS (throws socks, runs away, makes loud and exasperating sounds).
Who was I kidding, thinking I could get her to hold a sign and stand in one spot so I could take her picture.
The optimist inside got the better of me.
Here's how it went down.
Me: Audrey, please hold this sign so I can take your picture for daddy.
Audrey: NO! (exasperating loud noises).
Me: Audrey, you will be in time out until you decide you can hold this sign. You can decide where you hold it, but you will need to hold the sign so I can take your picture.
Timeout....
Audrey: I'm ready to hold the sign - gets up, runs to toys and ignores sign.
Me: Audrey, you said you were ready to hold the sign.
Audrey :NO! (exasperating loud noises)
Timeout...
I'm not kidding when I say this went on for 30 min. Along the way I may have sharpened my tone a bit but that did not change the end result. Timeout. I also must confess I realized, about the 4th timeout, that this was the most ridiculous argument I could have chosen for the day. When they say pick your battles, this is probably not one they were thinking of. The rational woman inside of me said "Let her win. This isn't worth it" but the teacher and stubborn mommy in me knew if I gave in, then every timeout would turn into a 30 min. battle and we don't have time for that in the morning with socks AND a jacket (pray for summer weather...SOON.... for my sanity!)
So, instead, we found middle ground. I hung the banner above her, while in timeout, and took her picture.
Happy Valentines to Scotty!
