I feel I should document some of Madeline's antics. She is a challenge from the time she gets up (6am) til the time her head hits the pillow. I am exhausted most days from just parenting her nevermind the other two who are so good, it evens out- mostly. But Madeline is a challenge mainly b/c she is so smart and so verbal for her age. It is almost as though she doesn't know how to channel all her thoughts and energy so she takes it out on me (and sometimes her siblings).
Some recent interactions:
I took Madeline out for dinner- just us. This is when she is a delight, basking in all the attention. I hear it is tough to be the middle child so Clay and I both try to do one on one things with the kids. We went to the local Mexican restaurant and there was a group of kids going to prom. One girl had on a green dress and Madeline asked me if she was Tinkerbell. I said I didn't think so but she did look like a princess! "Tinkerbell" had a large tattoo across her back but I didn't bring attention to it. A few days later I found Madeline in the playroom drawing on herself. I told her it was not okay to draw on herself, that we don't do that. She replied "Well that princess at the restaurant drew all over her back!" Seriously?
Out of the blue, Madeline asked me why some Daddies wear earrings. I asked her where she saw a Daddy wearing earrings and she said at the Y. I told her that was a choice that Daddy made but our Daddy does not wear earrings to which she replied "Well maybe we should get him some for Father's Day!" Hmm, I am sure Clay would love that!
How does the saying go? "Some of our greatest challenges are also our greatest blessings"- Miss Madeline definitely falls into that category! Never a dull moment with her around!
