She's in her Pirate Phase

Annabella and I are reading Peter Pan when through the window we hear our neighbor arguing with one of his adolescent daughters.

Yesterday the same neighbor came over to deliver a bag full of pears from his tree when I was having a particularly low-patience day with my kids. I was also feeling really bad about myself because I get help with them every weekday while I work. I feel like this means I shouldn't get frustrated with them on the weekends.

"Does it get easier?" I asked my neighbor, referring to my children who were tearing up and down the driveway, nearly running over each other (and us) with their big wheels.

"No," he said honestly. I didn't believe him until right now.

"You cannot talk to me like that!" He yells. His daughter says something I can't hear. "That's strike one!" he yells. She says something else I can't hear and then gets two more strikes and then gets grounded.

"You're... not... listening... to... me!" She screams back and then starts to cry.

Annabella says, "I don't think they're having a party." She's referring to the decidedly happier sounds we often hear wafting up from their yard.

"No," I say. "I think they're having a fight."

Annabella looks up at me and says, "I hope they don't have swords."

Comments

[Jean]

Glad I'm not the only one who has those moments and feels like a louse for it. I had one tonight just before dinner. I tell myself that if I was really a bad mom, I wouldn't feel lousy, and no one's perfect.

Doesn't make me feel much better, but it's true.

And I hope they didn't have swords too. ;-)

[whit]

I'm pacing myself on patience. Stuff has to last a while.

[Dale]

That's hilarious. I love watching the world through kids' eyes. And I think my 11-year-old's favorite phrase is, "You're not listening to me!" I remember the same feelings when I was a kid, and now that I can look back at it, I can understand why my parents "wouldn't listen". They already understood the situation better than I could even hope to with my immature brain.

But of course, kids can't understand that, either, which leads to much frustration and elevated voices.

But Peter Pan is excellent. So is reading with your kids.

[Jennifer]

I'm so glad to hear that others feel like lousy parents too. I know I do when we have one of those days.

Annabella really hit the nail on the head: If you don't have a sword, you can't use it! It's so wonderful the way kids think of things. Reminds me that we all need to be more childlike in that way.

[Kent Goldings]

I love Annabella. I hope they don't have swords too.