When you've lived your entire adult life as a single woman (I mean that in terms of never being married, not never being in a relationship), you have adapted to a certain way of life. Once you have a baby, single or not, you have to adapt again. And again. And again. And again. The thing that I've noticed, especially lately, is that she is ALWAYS watching me. Even if I'm doing something mundane like picking up her blocks for the nine thousandth time that day, she finds it incredibly interesting.
A few days ago, I let her sit on the counter while I was getting ready for work, and she studied my every movement like she was going to be tested on it. Amazingly, I watched as she picked up the toothbrush, held it to her mouth, made little "shh shh shh" sounds, and then put it down. Next, she picked up the hairbrush, lifted it over her head, and proceeded to brush her hair. Finally, she has decided that she's finished, turns on the water in the sink, and starts washing her hands. She kindly (I say that sarcastically) grunts that she would like to get down, so I let her down, and she walks into the bedroom. She picks up the deodorant sitting on the chair, and looks at it. She finally decides that it definitely gets put on your butt and swipes it (top still on) across her butt.
It's at this moment I realize that she has just followed my morning routine to a tee (aside from the deodorant butt swipe). Suddenly, there are flashes in my head of inappropriate things I've said, or possibly unkind gestures I've made in front of her. I think about all the unruly, cursing kids I see at the park, and fear sets in - has she already memorized all those not-so-nice things I've done in front of her? As I'm worrying that I've turned her into Satan himself, she walks over, picks up her baby doll, and hugs it, complete with side-to-side motion and gives it a kiss. It's then I realize that she's just fine. She's a sweet, loving kid with a great personality. She's always going to mimic me, so I'm just going to have to keep adjusting to make sure that I provide her clear examples of how to be a good person. After all, isn't that in the job description?
Sarah, don't front. You deodorize your bum every morning. Admit it.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww. Wait until Emma gets old enough so we can tell her about the marriage ceremony that took place in our backyard between you and your cousin, Charlie which was officiated by your other cousin, Jonathan and was annuled later in the day because you were really in love with the son of one of your mom and dad's friends....
ReplyDeleteAnd you thought life was simple when you were a little kid!