The "Thank You" cards are in the mail...

Finally, finally! The thank you notes from Cate's birthday party back in February are in the mail.

I am generally quicker on the turnaround, but for whatever reason, I kept pushing them off this time. I wanted to make sure Cate would be involved in creating the notes. Sometimes I add a photo, or a special drawing. But this time, I had her decorate the front of the card. She chose to use stickers and markers. We sat down shortly after 7pm and finished around 9pm. Thirteen cards. I had a "good idea" moment and had her decorating a card while I wrote in her voice (see January 2008 post: "Testing...Is This Thing On?") on a different one and then we switched. I read her each message I wrote, which she then approved. It was nice to see that she also can appreciate each gift for different reasons. A favorite toy from this person, a favorite item of clothing from those people, some money to use for something special, etc.

One particularly touching moment was when we were writing Uncle Cliff's thank you note. He gave her a very pretty, delicate pendant and chain. It was made in Norway, which is part of our heritage. He also gave her a Pooh activity kit. He is always mindful of what kids really want. I reminded her of the gifts, particularly the necklace and her expression got very serious. She thought for a moment, then said, "Uncle Cliff must really love me." And I replied, "yes he does, honey." Then she said, "and I love Uncle Cliff too!" She chuckled and then stated, "Uncle Cliff...he's a really OLD uncle!"

She put the most effort into Uncle Cliff's card--covering it with a lot of hand-drawn hearts. She even included a drawing of herself with a bubble thought above her head containing another heart so he would know how much she loved him.

I have no doubt he'll know.

"Shut Up!" Part II

So, my audience of one, would you like to know what happened after Cate uttered those two words to Grandma?

Cate walked in the back door into the kitchen, where I was making dinner. Her head was bowed down and when I asked her how her day was, she replied: "I don't want to talk about it." She knew I knew already.

At the dinner table, I brought it up again telling her that we needed to talk about it. I explained that when the time was right, she could tell me she was ready to talk. That was agreeable to her.

I was washing dishes when she approached me and said, "I'm ready to talk about it now."

So we sat down on the sofa and she said she told Grandma to shut up, "because I didn't like what she was saying to me! She was telling me I still had to take naps after I told her then when I am five, I don't have to take naps anymore." So we talked about what the real story is about taking naps--when she is five and a half and in school, she will not have to take naps any longer. Unless, of course, she was acting like she needed a nap. Plus, whatever Grandma says she has to do, then she needs to be obedient to Grandma. She told me she was sorry and I told her that she needed to say, "I'm sorry" to Grandma the next time she saw her. I also told her I was proud of her for telling me what happened and that I hope she can tell me anything she needs to and I won't be angry with her.

Boy, it would be nice if that last bit sunk in with her. Because I am sure the teenage years are going to be a real adventure with this girl.

"Shut Up!"

Cate, who will be five years' old next month, hates taking naps. What kid at that age likes taking naps? We have been dragging it out as long as possible.

A little backstory: The kids' week is mixed between the two sets of grandparents' homes while we work. We know we're blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity to have family willing to watch our kids in lieu of sending them to traditional daycare or having one of us stay at home. It has so many more advantages than disadvantages, but some inconsistencies between the daycare experiences happen. One of which is the opinion of "to nap or not to nap."

We were in the car this weekend going from point A to point B, when Cate asked whether she could watch a movie. I responded there was not going to be a movie that day because she needed to take a nap before the party that evening. She exclaimed how she didn't want to take a nap. My reply to her was that, when she goes to kindergarten (which is this fall), she will no longer have to take naps, but until then, she will still have to take a nap. Needless to say, she was not happy. And, in my defense, after some resistence, she still ended up taking a two-hour sleeping nap.

Here's what happened today...my mother called me at work to tell me about a special new phrase my daughter dared to say. Apparently, they were on the way home from Tiny Tots and Cate explained to my mom, "Momma says when I turn five, I don't have to take naps anymore." To which my mom responded, "Well, that might be at your house, but at my house, you will still take a nap if I think you need one." Cate protested and Mom must've come back with something Cate really didn't want to hear, so what did the little girl say to my mom?: "SHUT UP!" A phrase she has never uttered before.

Mom was so shocked that she stopped the car in the middle of the street. She looked back at Cate and said, "Don't you ever, EVER say that to me again! I will tell you mom what you just said to me." Cate pleaded, "No! don't tell my momma!" Cate looked mournful the rest of the way home.

I guess Cate and I will have an interesting follow-up conversation tonight...