The Good Stuff

Although I know this blog serves as an outlet for myself, perhaps more precisely my nerves, I feel it is necessary to take some time to share some of the more positive aspects of rearing children, particularly my three and half year old. Yes, she has her moments, many of them.  But above everything my daughter fills my life with so much joy and purpose I cannot imagine life had she turned out any other way.  I dedicate an abundance of my trials and tribulations regarding parenthood to my daughter because to a three year old life revolves around her. It only seems normal to discuss and vent about these moments rather than the ones I have already figured out.  Lately, I have been wondering if maybe I write too much of my blog relaying the blood boiling, hair raising, door slamming, temper tantrum beyond temper tantrum stories,  and not enough about the knee slapping, heart rendering moments Katie and I so often share together.  

Every day I wake up and roll over at about or around six o’clock in the morning to a bouncing blond haired, blue eyed, thumb sucking, Howie toting little girl ready to start the day off with a frozen waffle and episode of Caillou.  No one I know can say the same and I feel quite privileged to do so. People who meet Katie for the first time do one of two things, if not both. They either comment about her blond hair or realize she has a knack for saying or doing something to win a smile, not every time, but nine out of ten ain’t bad. While in the grocery store Katie will chat up the old ladies buying their Tetly tea and Lorna Doones as if she happened to bump into an old friend, letting them know her mommy farted accidentally in the other aisle, that Steven is her little brother all in same breath or something to that effect. At school she is a born leader, a genuine social butterfly. Polite, helpful, bright are some of the adjectives I have had the privilege of hearing during my first parent/teacher conference. If she is going to be on her best behavior you better believe I hope it is when she is in someone else’s care.  Sometimes, though, it would be nice to see more often the fruits of my labor! Katie, for the most part, considers me par for the course.  If the Howie card has not yet been thrown, anything is game. At school it is a different story. She is the epitome of a star student. Honestly, in high school she was the student that made me want to gag. But that is neither here nor there because I would not want it any other way.

On a different note, nothing escapes this child. If you tell her, she will remember. This I have learned well. Obviously she does not take after me in this department because if I turn from the stove to fetch a ladle, nine times out of ten, I will forget I have a pot of soup boiling. This is not an exaggeration.  Two months ago I landed myself a speeding ticket, on the PA Turnpike no less, while my little sweetie was in the back taking mental notes. Recently, on a ride to return movies on a week night,  I accidentally drove past our destination and proceeded on our regular route to school. Katie announced she wanted to tell daddy about what I did, “I think he will laugh. I won’t tell him the bad stuff mommy does, though. He won’t think that’s funny.” I asked quite astonished, “Bad stuff? Mommy doesn’t do bad stuff.” Katie so easily reminded me, “Well, like when you get pulled over. He won’t laugh at that.”  Ah, yes well, then you would be right, my child. So instead of feeling foolish and quite frankly, outwitted, I tossed my head back in laughter and pulled over to text my husband the Katie-ism for the day. I think that particular ism carried the week.

Here’s the thing.  It is her charm and wit and innocence that make Katie so darn exceptional in my eyes. Not everyone has the ability to speak clearly through clenched teeth, unless of course you are a mother making it a regular practice. Not only do I feel I have contracted TMJ but I have thoroughly convinced Katie that speaking through clenched teeth really is a common, if not normal, behavior among adults. Despite the fact she has the ability to discern when my patience is running on empty; Katie somehow manages to crack me up even whilst I am in the midst of doling out punishment.  My husband falls flat on his face with this quite often. For instance, computer lover that he is; there being a thin line between love and hate, in our home computers and electronics, in general, have the uncanny ability to send my husband through the roof. After ten years of hemming and hawing about computers one might think he would have tossed them all to the curb, but no. His inability to control his temper with the computer, laptop, GPS, satellite radio, Wii, digital alarm clock, iphone, camera and alarm system has severely crippled his coping skills. This leads me to Katie’s punctual delivery. While attempting something on his laptop Steve, as if on cue, became quite flustered after of course heavily sighing and then out right grunting and descretely swearing. Katie pointed out, while twirling around him in her tutu, “Yeeeeah, I know, daddy. Pappy gets mad at that silly thing, too.” Now Steve is half hanging off the stool he is perched on, clutching at his stomach because he cannot breathe between gulps of laughter when a minute ago the laptop before him could have been Jesus himself and he’d still be calling it a Mother Fucker…under his breathe, of course. This is an everyday occurrence in my home. Not the mother F’er part.  Instances like these fill my days with such laughter I cannot help but love my daughter even more for her witty charm. If it is not an unexpected one liner, it is the ability to astonish me in ways no mother could just conjure up.

Katie with all her wit and charm truly finds time each day to unknowingly tell me how much she loves and cares about me and the people around her without even uttering a word.  Crawling up beside me on the couch to put a book in my lap, slipping the last candy corn in my hand, sliding her hand through her baby brothers hair, making an extra paper wand for her friend, stopping in midst of play just to pat a sleepy kitty all tell me my little girl is wise beyond her years, truly thoughtful and kind.  Katie has the ability to make a person feel like they are the center of her world, for surely she is at the center of mine.