Addition to my "To Read List"

The Superior Wife Syndrome by Carin Rubenstein

Whine...

So frustrating. Two of my favorite products are no longer being carried at my neighborhood grocery.

Talarico's Ten Thousand Island Salad Dressing

and Bellagio Sipping Chocolate

Don't Touch Me

This utube video kills me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdggx-70KV4

The Joys of Toddlerhood

I accept behavior from The Toddler (not without some timeouts & corrections) that I'd never accept from a friend. Or a perfect stranger. Or anyone but her, really.

Yesterday she peed on the floor, on purpose. She's completely (daytime) potty-trained and, successfully, goes to the bathroom on her own all of the time in the house; I don't remember the last time she had an accident.

She came me, proudly, and declared, "I peed on the floor."

I checked her bottom and no wetness. At first, I thought she was joking. Or pretending. After all, it never occurred to me she would take her pants down and pee on the floor. Still disbelieving, I asked her to show me.

She led me to the bathroom and pointed, "There, I peed there." Indeed, she had.

I asked her why she did it, that it was inappropriate and we don't do that.

Her response, "Because I did," with a knowing smile.

Lovely. I quickly grabbed the 409 and cleaned up the mess and then marched her to her father.

"She purposely peed on the floor."

Husband: "Why did you do that? You shouldn't do that. Why did you pee on the floor, Toddler?" he asked in this best "stern" voice.

Toddler: "Because I did."

Husband, the smirk begins. He's trying not to laugh. I can see it.

If you can't beat them, join them. Some days all you can do is laugh. ...And hope there isn't a repeat performance...

If this had been anyone else, I'd ban him or her from my house. I'd probably be so weirded out that I'd avoid that person in the future. But, this is my child and there's an invisible umbilical cord that will always connect us, one that belies logic and makes me love her even when she is at her most unlovable.

She's in a testing phase right now and I have no doubt, the pee incident is part of that. If I can make it to her fourth birthday, I'll be pleased. Besides the obvious, boundary-learning, people tell me testing is a sign of independence, a sign of intelligence. That's all fine and good, and part of me believes it, but there are days my patience is wears thin and I'm just not sure I'm cut out for this job. Yet, I love her through and through. If I'd never had her, I wouldn't know to miss her but now, I can't imagine life without her. That love is what makes it possible for me to laugh and enjoy the moment, even after I've finished mopping pee off the floor, which is definitely not something I'd do for someone else.