Breaking news. My little Sophie has every intention of being a renaissance woman when she grows up. Sophie aspires towards greatness in five different categories. In no particular order:
Category Archives: Chief Mom Officer Musings
Chloe Doesn’t Shut Up
I’ve written about this before. But it’s true and it’s not gotten any better. Chloe yaks and yaks and yaks. And laughs at her yakking. I’ve never seen a kid who loves the sound of her own voice as much as she does.
The Fun Begins
I dragged Chloe shopping this morning because it was time to find her something, other than jeans or sweatpants, that she would be willing to wear on the lower half of her body. This was a do-or-die situation, with a very clear deadline. Friends have invited us to dinner next weekend, and they’re taking us to their country club, which has a strict no-jeans policy.
I Want to Be a Shoemaker
Sophie had a very serious discussion with her Grammy yesterday. About her future and what she wants to be when she grows up. She apparently wants to be four things.
My iTouch and Me
Chloe has a best friend. It’s not her sister. Indeed, her best friend is not a fellow human. It’s her iTouch. Chloe pays tribute to Steve Jobs (RIP) everyday with her quasi-permanent electronic appendage. She is addicted to it and it is addicted to her.
Chloe’s Guilt Trip
Last night, in an effort to convince us to play a game with her, Chloe righteously exclaimed, “I can’t believe you don’t want to play with me. You both should be happy I want to hang out with you. My friends don’t ever want to hang out with their parents. You need to take advantage of this while you can, because when I’m 14 I won’t want to be seen with you.”
Sophie’s Unicorn Called “Horny”
Chloe saved Sophie from herself when Sophie, your average, literal 6-year old, wanted to name her stuffed unicorn “Horny.” Chloe burst out laughing when she heard the name and suggested to her little sister that the name would be a little challenging for the unicorn to carry.
Hormones?
Chloe has been going through a phase recently. A cranky, way-too-emotional phase. Whether it’s getting irrationally upset in response to her Grammy trying to do something nice for her or because she can’t go to a birthday party taking place on a weekend we’re going to be away (at Hershey Park, no less, which she was over the moon about when we planned it a couple of weeks ago), I’m seeing a new, somewhat perplexing side to her.
Listen, I know my big girl is not always the easiest kid to deal with. She’s smart, she’s intense, she speaks her mind without first editing herself, she can be mean to her little sister. But these most recent outbursts have caused me to wonder whether an alien being has infiltrated her brain.
Could it be that the late nights over the summer have finally caught up with her? Could it be the onset of puberty? Are the hormones starting to rage? Should I stop trying to find excuses for her behavior and accept the fact that she’s just being a pain in the ass for no good reason? As much as I would love to assign a cause to her rants and raves, I’m leaning towards the latter.
I love Chloe more than words can say. But boy, can she be exasperating sometimes. For a kid who always acts fairly mature for her age, who’s extremely astute and verbal for a 10-year old, she’s a conundrum. And yet, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree – she’s a lot like me, so I shouldn’t be so surprised. Hell, when I was 10, I was pulling similar stunts. Not for nothing, my parents’ nickname for me was El Exigente (“the demanding one”). Even worse, I started in with my antics when I was still officially a toddler. When my brother was an infant I asked my mom if we could throw him down the garbage incinerator in our Queens apartment building (I’m very glad she refused my request – my brother has turned into a lovely man).
So, Chloe, if you’re reading this, please don’t take this post the wrong way or get upset with me for writing about you. I love you very, very much. You remind me of me. Indeed, you’re a little like a mini-me. But cut the crap already! Tell the alien it’s time for it to return to its home planet.
A Day of Support
Today was a very momentous day for Chloe. Without going into too many details, we went shopping for some back-to-school clothes. She tried out a new store, Delia’s, which she liked quite a bit, and we walked away with a bag full of jeans and t-shirts. Chloe has grown a couple of inches in the last few months and will probably hit five feet by next year.
Maybe I Don’t Have to Worry Too Much, Yet
In yesterday’s post, I fretted over the stupid things the girls might do as teenagers, just a few too short years away (at least in Chloe’s case). But I received a photo of Chloe today that assuaged my fears and made me think that maybe sleep won’t completely elude me over the next couple of years.