With April 22nd approaching (in less than 3 months she'll be 4!), Philip and I were reflecting on the fact that our daughter's pain-in-the-assedness is tapering off somewhat. That said, she is lately a total freak at dinner time. She can't transition. It is totally the "witching hour" thing but man, she fights and cries about washing hands and coming to the table and eating so very much it is maddening.
Last night was no different. Yuki used to watch a little TV before dinner, but since this transition hell started, we decided to nix the TV. So Philip and Yuki were playing "Halloween" rather nicely, dressing up in costumes and coming into the kitchen to say "Trick-or Treat!" Then I announced dinner. Yuki, predictably, started to go through her usual fuss and after a while, Philip told her that he was under a spell and if she washed her hands, the spell will be lifted. The spell in question here is that he had been turned into Minnie Mouse. He had Yuki's Minnie Mouse ears and was speaking in a high-pitched voice. Yuki was not amused. She screamed at Philip to cut it out and he kept going. After about 5 minutes of this, Philip finally got Yuki in the bathroom but she still wouldn't wash her hands. The patient man finally lost his shit and said the following:
"I have had it with your crap every night. Why does it take so long to complete the simple task of washing your hands? It's causing me to stand here with Minnie Mouse ears on my head and yell at you which is ridiculous. Like your behavior!"
I was curled up in a ball on the kitchen floor trying to kill my giggles before they walked in so I had the supportive parental frown. I managed to stand back up just in time. Yuki tried a couple more things on us to which I put a "Japanese" stop, if you get my drift. (Note: there is no hitting involved, just shame). Then we had a nice dinner. Which is always how it ends. A nice dinner. It just takes 20 minutes to get to there.
I swear I feel like we're doing the dining room scene from The Miracle Worker* sometimes. But with mouse ears.
Art by Halie Looper who cooked up this masterpiece upon request. The editors of A Lifetime of Worry are a little dumbstruck.**
*For those who have never seen it, click here.
**For more art by Halie, click here.
Last night was no different. Yuki used to watch a little TV before dinner, but since this transition hell started, we decided to nix the TV. So Philip and Yuki were playing "Halloween" rather nicely, dressing up in costumes and coming into the kitchen to say "Trick-or Treat!" Then I announced dinner. Yuki, predictably, started to go through her usual fuss and after a while, Philip told her that he was under a spell and if she washed her hands, the spell will be lifted. The spell in question here is that he had been turned into Minnie Mouse. He had Yuki's Minnie Mouse ears and was speaking in a high-pitched voice. Yuki was not amused. She screamed at Philip to cut it out and he kept going. After about 5 minutes of this, Philip finally got Yuki in the bathroom but she still wouldn't wash her hands. The patient man finally lost his shit and said the following:
"I have had it with your crap every night. Why does it take so long to complete the simple task of washing your hands? It's causing me to stand here with Minnie Mouse ears on my head and yell at you which is ridiculous. Like your behavior!"
I was curled up in a ball on the kitchen floor trying to kill my giggles before they walked in so I had the supportive parental frown. I managed to stand back up just in time. Yuki tried a couple more things on us to which I put a "Japanese" stop, if you get my drift. (Note: there is no hitting involved, just shame). Then we had a nice dinner. Which is always how it ends. A nice dinner. It just takes 20 minutes to get to there.
I swear I feel like we're doing the dining room scene from The Miracle Worker* sometimes. But with mouse ears.
Art by Halie Looper who cooked up this masterpiece upon request. The editors of A Lifetime of Worry are a little dumbstruck.**
*For those who have never seen it, click here.
**For more art by Halie, click here.
Comments
and Gabrielle - I did not!!!
Judy
xo
gibs
lt
xo
So is the image of Philip getting upset in mouse ears.
The Artist (I just like being called that)