For as long as I can remember Madeline's favorite days have been "girl day girl day" or "home day home day." Girl day is when she and I get time together alone- without the boys.
This morning we dropped Tucker off to school. And I need to stop for a moment and document something here for Tucker. Tucker, your sister loves you so so much. Every morning she walks you into Mother's Day Out and pulls out your chair. She waits for you to sit down and she scoots you up to your snack. She kisses you on your head and ruffles your hair and tells you, "Bye!" And that she loves you. There has been ONE morning that I rushed her away from you and didn't give her time to kiss you. She cried all the way to her room so I let her go back and love on you. I was super late for work but it didn't matter. It is going to be so strange to not have her helping me take Tucker to school this Fall.
Back to girl day. We dropped off Tucker and set off for do-nuts. She wanted to go inside to eat so we sat there alone in the shop and visited. She wanted to know where the people who own the shop were from and she suspected that they were from China because "they have black hair." I told her she could ask them and they told her about Cambodia. We looked at the satellite map of Cambodia on my phone and they told her it was close to China. She was so excited that she was "kind of right." She heard them speaking to one another and told them that she only spoke 1 language because she was, "just a white person" and said that she was learning some French and Spanish. The "white person" comment required some discussion once we got in the car. She is noticing colors of skin and hair. I'm a "tanned-skin person" and she's a white person. I explained to her as best and as innocently as I could -trying not to make her feel bad- that people come from all over the world to live and work in America and that no matter what color skin someone has or what language they speak that once they move to America they just want to be called Americans.
Whew...the talking never stops and I never know what will come out of her mouth. I've never been embarrassed by anything she has said because I always know what she means but I do have to do some explaining sometimes. And Madeline's stories aren't short. If you ask her a question be prepared for an extended answer. If you don't have time to really listen to what she has to say then you just shouldn't talk to her. I feel bad when someone tries to rush her through an answer. She has so much to say and if you slow down and take the time to listen her responses are fascinating. I've thought about explaining to her that some people just want a short concise answer but I'm not going to. I think we should all slow down and really listen to what one another has to say. Madeline and I are starting a revolution.
On to shopping...I wanted to get her a new backpack but last night we had a LONG talk about wanting things versus needing things and I had just about lost it several times yesterday because of her always asking for things in a store...toys...clothes...whatever. I want her to be appreciative of what she has. So on the way to the store she said she would give her current backpack to someone less fortunate and I agreed to go and look at the new backpacks. She has a new princess backpack for kindergarten.
Then we went to get her school supplies. She was great. So sociable and sweet to everyone we met in the isles and little to no asking for things. We got everything we needed and had lunch together. She wanted me to color with her while we were waiting for our food and it was so nice to just sit there with her in the quiet and color. I had forgotten what Madeline is like. Madeline by herself not competing for attention with Tucker. She is so easy. Such an easy, kind, reasonable girl to love. I loved our day together. After lunch we went to pick up Tuck and we were so happy to get him back. They spent the entire afternoon chasing each other and playing.
It has been a great day.
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