First Bicycle

This past weekend I feel has been a momentous one. My little girl got her first bicycle. Its a wonderful, Frozen themed purple with snowflakes colored bicycle with silvery pom-poms on both sides of the handle. It has training wheels. It even has a small bag on the front handle with Elsa and Anna on it- for keeping snack and knick-knacks. And it goes so fast!
This past Sunday as I was running up and down the neighborhood next to little Miss Haana riding her bicycle, I wondered: Is she big enough for a bicycle already? That big? 

Turf War

Lately role reversal has been very popular with me. Until recently.

Little Miss Haana seeks to get what she wants. When she doesn't get what she wants, she tries to be a very good, big girl and ask nicely. And then she asks again. And again. And again.. yes, constantly. In order to drive home the point that this can be annoying, I tell her I am the little girl and she's Mumma.

Yesterday at bed time when little Miss Haana was in the repeat mode, I said I am Gugu now. And then I wailed: "Mumma, I want a sticker".
"I want a sticker Mumma", I repeated.
"I want a big sticker. I want a sticker Mumma! Mumma, Mumma, I want a sticker. Mumma, I want a sticker now, Mumma. Mumma! STICKER!......."
For about 30 seconds I went on about how badly I needed a sticker.
The big little girl kept her patience and cool and kept listening. Smiling. Understanding the joke.
And then finally giving up the turf declared, "No, I don't want to be Mumma anymore!".

We giggled and laughed for a good 15 minutes after! 

Gun Control

Miss Haana and I helped ourselves to a couple of raisins at our grocery store.

She took 2 raisins from my hand. 

She later decided they were gum -as in chewing gum.

Then at checkout counter, I briefly saw one of the raisins jump away from her to the floor. She turned around to face me and said it fell down. I nodded absentmindedly. Then she cried, "Mumma, I want my gun back!!! I want a gun!!"

Several more pleads of "I want a gun" followed! I thought it so ironic she should say "I want a gun" in Texas :)

I let her chant it a few more times just for my ironic pleasure!!

Then finally told her what she means is not gun, she means to say is g-u-m. 

Scary Thought

I had the most scariest moment this past weekend. Nothing actually happened but sometimes thoughts can scare the living daylight out of you too..

Little Miss Haana and I went to Home Depot this weekend. There are several reasons we like Home Depot. One of them is their patio furniture featuring a swing. Both of us love to hang out at the the patio furniture section and try the different swings. So this day I was looking forward to it.

Much to my dismay the swings were gone. Replaced by rocking chairs now - not quite the same if you ask me. But my little helper quickly placed herself on one of the rocking chairs. I proceeded to browse the aisle right next to the rocking chairs. Then realized I need to check the adjacent aisle too. I told the little girl I am going to the next aisle. She nodded, and I went forth loosing sight of her for just a little bit.

When I came back towards the rocking chairs, they were empty. I didn't panic- she must be around it had just been a few seconds or so. Then I saw she was being led by the store attendant - probably to customer service to find her Mumma. I called "Guguu" from behind and she ran up to me.

Later I was thinking about this incident at home and I shuddered when I pictured her being led by the finger by someone else. What if it wasn't the store attendant? What if it was someone else? What if she was led outside the store like that?? It scares me even to type these things- as if typing them and getting them out of my heart would somehow make them more possible... I shudder to think of what some parents have to go through.. In this instance I was glad that the Home Depot store attendants took care of her for the few seconds that I lost sight of my little girl. But it was the scariest thought of my life.

The First Bad Word

Today's park visit was interesting in a not so good way..

It was a beautiful spring afternoon which pretty much mandated a park visit. I had other agendas too but they were quickly brushed aside in favor of Vitamin D building, sunshine dancing park visit.

We went to a park we don't go during weekdays. When we reached there, the kids' play area was crowded with big kids taking pictures of themselves and their friends on the slides. Thinking it's too crowded here, little girl and I walked over to the nearby play area which seemed empty. 

When we got there, there was a group of 7-8 boys (probably teenagers and 6 feet tall each) hanging out at the slides. The little girl and I approached the slides. But she sort of froze at the stairs and kept watching the big boys. All the boys hung out talking at the play area above the stairs. I goaded her to move on and climb up so we can get to the slides. But she hesitated and later decided she just wanted to be at the stairs and not go up afterall. 

I wanted my little girl to not be intimidated by the boys and instead play on the slides like she intended to initially. But I also realized that she can't do it unless I do it first. I went and talked to the boys and asked if they can hang out elsewhere. No surprise they reminded me they can very well hang out wherever they please. I pressed on.. I said I understand that, but their presence is intimidating the little girl. They said they couldn't possibly decline me when I'm asking so nicely. They hung out in one corner of the play area and Gugu and I played at the slides for a bit. 

Soon, we drifted to the volleyball court. I told the boys thanks and we're out of there. There at the volleyball sand court Gugu and I made sand castles. A few other older kids were practicing baseball throws nearby. 

Unfortunately all these big kids (middle or high school) used quite a profane language. The little girl is always very interested in other older kids. She observes very keenly. She listens and remembers. I was reminded of these traits of hers when we came home and I was getting her out of the car seat and she said "damnit-gth". It's the first time I've heard her use that word. 

We had a talk after that, and I tried to explain to her sometimes people are not always saying or doing the right things. Sometimes people use bad words or do bad things (the big kids on the slides were using f words!! :( ) But she is not to use these bad words- it is not right. 

We patched up like we always do. With a hugs and kisses and lot of unrelated talk soon after. And inside I was hoping she wasn't listening in on the other bad words!

:S