Flinging Mom's Good Intentions

Picking Ellie up from school/daycare is always an interesting event.

We go through the initial euphoric excitment to be reunited. We hug, she shows me things in her classroom, we wash hands and then head for the car. As we walk the hallway from her side of the school to the front enterence, the euphoria starts to wear off and we begin to realize that it's been a long day for both of us.

It's become an expected routine to have a snack on the car ride home (which is about 10-15mins). First starting with a bottle of milk in the early months, to now something little like an applesauce crusher or some yogurt drops/puffs/animal crackers. (Ellie always seems starved on her school days although the teachers assure me she eats her full portions. So I figure it's just all the activity she's getting. Or just the anticipation of an established routine at this point). Either way, I faithly ensure I don't leave the house without something in hand to provide.

Ellie crushed this Mom's good intentions last Thursday though. We get in the car, she gets buckled into her car seat, I pour some puffs into a little bowl and proudly present them to her. She looks at me, she looks at the puffs and flings them towards the nearest door. As silly as it may be, I was hurt. She could have just shook her head and given her "noooo" like most other times. But to so coldly throw something I put effort into making sure she has on a regularly basis was just mean. It was like my love and good intentions were being flung.

A battle of wills ensued.

She wanted something else. I felt strongly that such behavior should not be rewarded in any way. So needless to say, it was a long car ride home. She whined and fake cried. I ignored (as best I could). Thank goodness Braden was home to receive both of us. It gave us some time apart and allowed for a reset.

Ahhhh... the joys of parenting a little human with 17 months of life experience.