Getting Down With Her Bad Self

"Sprite, get down, please."

"Get down!" Sprite looks at me, proud of her vocal accomplishment.

"Sprite, I mean it, get down!"

"Get down!" Her voice is crackling with giggles.

I pluck Sprite from her precarious position of feet on the bench seat and arms trying to boost herself onto the table and bring her up, her face at eye level, to relay my point a little more clearly.

"Sprite, I said no."

She can't look at me. Her eyes are looking to my right. I turn her body to the left and her eyes lock on mine. Gotcha. Hi. We're gonna talk now, kid.

"Sprite, I said no climbing."

Sprite smiles at me and brings her right pointer finger up to touch my nose. "Nose."

Don't smile. She wants that.

"Sprite, listen.."

"Eyes," she whispers as her little fingers poke themselves into my sockets for emphasis.

"Sprite-" I'm faltering. This isn't working.

"Mommy," her voice is a caress now as she strokes my cheek and then leans forward with a "Mmm", her verbal cue for a kiss.

Dammit, I'm done.

Maybe, I should just let her fall off the stupid bench next time and save myself the emotional backtalk.

Comments

[Lindsay Weiss]

Don't you love when your toddler rules the roost?

Happens all the time here...

[Baba]

Why should it be different with you?

[Ash]

Oh, thank goodness it happens to you too! Today I told Isaiah not to kick his legs while we were lying on the bed, and so he turned to me, petted my hair and said, "I love you kitten." Then when he knew my heart was at it's ooiest, gooiest melty moment, he kicked away.

[Lisa (Jonnysmommy)]

Oh dear...this is me to a "t". I can't stand it when he does that kind of stuff to me. Last night he kept leaning into my legs and hugging me every time I took off after him for trying to climb on something or tear something down.

I'm weak! Weeeeak!