I'll give you two guesses which I like more. The mom thing is very overwhelming, and I have nothing but respect for women who do it full time. Can't wait to be one...or maybe I can.
I've been babysitting my niece Naomi three times a week and have been having a blast, but like most four year olds, like most people actually, she had an off day a while back and was being rather naughty. Now, her mom counts to three when she's being bad, and usually gets the proper response at about "two and a half". I've done the counting thing with her, and again, usually works. Thank God, because I don't know what to do at "three" but a week ago I found out. I was telling her to do something and got zero response, other than a totally straight face and some blinking which I took to mean utter defiance. It was time to test how far "Auntie Mellie" could be pushed. The day had to come sometime I guess. So after "one", "two", "c'mon Naomi, time to listen please...please?" my fears came to pass. I spanked her. Rather wimpily (word? not a word?). I tried not to be scared, tried not to show that I did not want to do this at all. Tried to keep a straight face. I thought I did a pretty good job even though the swat itself lacked force, or heart... Dead serious, she looks up at me with these big brown eyes and says in the tone of a snotty 13 year old girl, "My mom gives better spankings than you do" and proceeds to do exactly what I asked. Had I not felt so insecure about my discipline abilities already, I'd have laughed my face off. Later the next time I babysat, when her mom showed up, Naomi tells her "Mom, I was a little bit naughty for auntie Mellie today". Then I laughed my face off.
She came over again yesterday and we got some great pictures, she was a total angel all day, and we had a blast with her. Looks like the spanking incident didn't harm our relationship much.
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Me and Naomi playing in the tree.
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Naomi and Peter making grass whistles. Actually, only Peter, since Naomi just put the grass to her mouth and tried to scream in a whistle-like manner. They were so cute playing together I took a million pictures, and told Peter we needed to start having our own kids, soon. He He He.
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Naomi and Peter playing "Pirates". She was in a tree, and when Peter the Pirate tried to get to her, then she would kick him out of the tree and giggle like crazy when he fell out.
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Peter, finally defeated, and exhausted.
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Just gorgeous. There are few people in the world that Naomi loves as much as her "Uncle Petey". Can't say I blame her.