the most loved kid.

Soapy D is now four and a half.
She splits her weeks between our house and her moms.

Tonight when I was tucking her in we were talking about how lucky she was to have two different houses. She grinned as wide as her little mouth would let her like she had a secret.  And then she said...

"I think that makes me the most loved kid because I have two families and a lot of people love me!"

In a day and age where blended families, single parent families and non-traditional families outnumber the rest and can sometimes be challenging or contentious, I am so glad this little girl has figured that out.  If nothing else, she understands that her two houses have a great deal of love for her in common.

This kid really gets it.

-McGee

little MANnerisms

It's been awhile.
If you aren't familiar with little MANnerisms click here first:
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/03/kids.html

Today, completely out of the blue and totally random Soapy D says to me in a near whisper...

"I know most of the time I think about unicorns but sometimes I just think about myself." 

Holding back my laughter in hopes that she would keep going I asked her just what does she think about herself.

"You know like I think what would Soapy D do and what will Soapy D do now and just Soapy D, Soapy D, Soapy D."

And with that she hopped off our bed and went about her day.

Man I love that kid.

And Unicorns.

-McGee

permission.

Sitting in the front yard playing with the two littlest.
Soapy D with her jump rope and Little Man on his scooter.
Look up from my book to see Soapy D start to cry.

“What’s wrong kiddo?”
“Little Man t-t-t-took my ju-ju-ju-ump rope.”
“Sweetheart. Stop crying about it and just tell him you want it back.”

It was like watching lightening strike.
Her face went from sad to fierce in 2 seconds flat.
“LITTLE MAN. I WANT MY JUMP ROPE BACK!”

It was like she just needed permission to stand up for herself.

It’s kinda funny, more like a sad funny, that we girls tend to do this thing. This thing where we start to cry and look for people around us to hug us and wipe up tears and solve our problems rather than stand up for ourselves. Once I told Soapy D that she needed to just tell Little Man to give it back it was like a light went on in her head and she just flipped a switch. She put those hands on her little hips, stomped her foot and got the angry look while demanding her jump rope be returned.

She just needed permission.

I wonder how often I’ve done this as a grown woman. How many times did I cry and whine and complain about how unfair something while waiting for someone to step in and make things right and fair in the world?  Do I stomp my feet and wait for someone else to come and rescue me? 

What would it look like it I stood up for myself and getting what I wanted by doing what I needed to do?  What if I could empower myself to just ask for what I need in any situation or relationship?

Hmmm. Something to ponder for sure.

Need permission?
You have mine!

-McGee

little MANnerisms

Introducing...Soapy D.

(That's just her gangster name.)

She is our super picky and uber shy kiddo.

But tonight, for dinner,  we mixed it up a bit.

And introduced her to In and Out.

As she finds herself loving her cheeseburger she realizes it looks like a smiley face and prompts me to take a picture of her holding her burger up to her face.

Once I show it to her, she proudly proclaims at the top of her lungs

"That is really cool!  I AM REALLY, REALLY CUTE!"

Followed by silence.
And then hysterical laughing.

Can't teach that kind of self esteem to a teen!
God bless the 3 year olds!

-McGee