The Oatmeal Incident

Maliana ~

Daddy told me this a few weeks ago and I would be remiss if I did not capture this story in your blog, even though it is of one of your more ornery moments, so here goes…

It was a typical morning with Daddy getting ready while you ate a bowl of oatmeal in the bedroom, watching the Disney channel. Daddy walked back in and happened to notice that your bowl of oatmeal was missing. He looked high and low, finally spotting it, upside down on the floor. Luckily it had landed on a plastic covered library book so it was an easy clean up. When he asked you what had happened, you would not answer. When he asked again if you had thrown your oatmeal on the floor (since you didn’t do your usual “uh oh!” when an accident happens), you proceeded to lean casually back and place your arms folded behind your head, staring straight at Daddy but still not saying anything. You held that pose for a while, and when Daddy realized that throwing your oatmeal was precisely what you had done, he began to scold you and put you in time out. All the while, you did not even budge from your relaxed position, kicked back with your arms behind your head. He left you there for a couple minutes and when he came back in, lo and behold, you were STILL in that same cocky little pose, staring right at Daddy. You held it while he reprimanded you and attempted to elicit an apology or some kind of recognition that what you had done was not appropriate. All he got was a big fat nothing, a defiant stare, right back at him. Then, when the standoff had to come to an end since it was time to get going to work and school, he asked if you wanted to “start over” as we usually ask once a time out is complete. You immediately snapped out of your defiant little pose and said, “Yeah!” with a big smile and a hug as if nothing had ever happened. You little stinker!

We always knew you were going to be a headstrong kid, and we adore you for it. Little did we know how soon it would happen or how spirited you were going to be! All I can say is that we all are going to be in for a wild ride together – and I am sure we will love every minute of it! Just think of all the great stories we will have to tell, right?

Love,
Mama