Update
We are back from Toronto where we got to spend a week while Lincoln was attending some training for work. I don't know what to tell you - it was a weeklong trip with a 14-month-old in a downtown hotel room. When she took naps, I took naps, which basically meant lying still pretending to sleep. When she went to bed at 7 or 8 p.m. - we went to bed! Here we were in downtown Toronto, with the "Four Seasons Hotel" a block down and a Prada store around the corner and we go to bed at 8 o'clock. I knew we were going to stay downtown and I was excited about it. I was ready to be the urban mama, the cool, completely in control, self-assured, extremely well-dressed mother, pushing my uber-cute toddler and feeding off of the jealousy of the people passing by. I can hear you all laughing, but for me it was sad, because none of these things came through for me and they were SO important!
As I was trying to enjoy the advantages of the shops and sights Veronika was trying to make my life miserable. She did not want to be in the stroller, but just walk, which was impossible. If we went to a cafe or restaurant, she would scream to get out of the stroller or the highchair. If I let her walk, she'd constantly try to close and open doors and walk in front of the waiters or she climbed stairs! How did I deserve this? The week I get to spend in Toronto, she decides to learn how to climb stairs?! She would scream in the stores if I didn't let her out, if I did, she would walk all over the place and I'd have to follow her which left no time for ME. ME ME ME! I need some time for my enjoyment, kid! My time was running out as naptime was always rapidly approaching. My bubble was bursting in a million little pieces in slow, s l o w motion and raining down on me as I gave up and surrendered - once again - to my daughter's wishes. "As you say, sweet Princess!" Attempting some sort of harmony one last time I took her to the bookstore. We both like children's books, I thought, - we will look through them and be happy. Unfortunately the children's section at the bookstore had a small flight of stairs... And that was that. From that day on, we spent our days at the park and in the hotel, watching cartoons, eating dirt and chasing pigeons.
We all returned home relieved. It's nice to get away but that child needs to learn some vacation skills! Veronika and I resumed our daily routines with a little more energy... It's fall. Fall always feels like a beginning, even sweeter when you don't have to go to school (yes, I'm still glad about that). And just as we returned, Veronika decided to display some new levels of cuteness and I am wondering how such a precious little thing can display such nasty behavior. You should hear the protest marches and demonstrations she puts up. If you thought WTO-conference-unruliness is bad, come to my house! She actually roars at me.
Well, anyway, remember how I just wrote she wouldn't go shopping with me? Guess what, my daughter now SHOPS. In the last few days she's been adorning herself with anything long and necklace-looking. She puts on my tape measures and Digby's leash and the occasional real necklace I have also surrendered to her and she parades around going about her business with long, flowing beautiful accessories. I suppose it was only natural that when I went to the mall yesterday to buy her some pants and tights, she actually purchased her first own piece of jewelry. Obvioiusly, the reason she could do that is that I had to release her from the captivity that is the stroller (after some screaming, yay!) and so she wandered around, came back to take the pants I had picked out for her and then holding her one purchase in one hand, she grabbed a necklace and bracelet set with the other and followed me to the cashier. I lifted her and the sales guy scanned her items. I didn't even touch the stuff until we left the store! She bought herself some bling!!!
Here is the spectacular piece...
... and that's how you rock it:
Oh, Dinka, I feel for you!!!
This is one of the hardest lessons for Mommy to learn. I am *not* a city woman or a museum dweller or any of that cultural stuff. But, since we're Americans living in England for a few years, I thought it would be so wonderful to "do Europe". I've got lots of books, my favorite being Take Your Kids To Europe....How to travel safely and sanely. I thought it would be wonderful. I have now resigned myself to "doing the *beaches* of Europe" (Croatia is on next summer's list). That is the kind of vacation my family needs and enjoys. Maybe you'll get lucky and as Veronika grows, she'll enjoy more of that cultural stuff.
Good story! Yeah, I laughed, but with you, not at you!
Sandy (do I know you from Trad Cath Mom's board?)
LOL! Veronika is doing that thing where she is strating to think she's a real person (as opposed to a mini toddler person with pinchable cheeks). It's funny when they do that.
Sandy,
You know Dinka from the NFP board...;)
So I have advised Gabriel as to Veronika's taste in jewlery. So don't be surprised if her engagement ring is pink, plastic and heart shaped :-)
She is a doll.
Leah