Little Expert

Last weekend, Mackenzie had her three years old, almost four, cousin over for a sleep over. Being the youngest in our family she will still make baby whimpers for attention and asks people to turn the bathroom light on for her. Well, her more matronly instincts come out around Malachi. Her other cousin, Jake, same age, brings out other instincts which I shall not mention. Mackenzie began taking care of her guest by buckling Malachi into her car seat for the drive to our house. She unbuckled him when we arrived home and then took him by the hand to lead him in. Once inside, she helped him take off his coat and put it where the kids' coats go and she took off his shoes and put them on the shoe mat. Now why doesn't she do that for her own clothing? Yeah, I know, because she can get away with it. She also explained that "Malachi is our guest so he gets to pick what we do." However, I'm not certain that is what was carried out. When he needed the washroom later, she was quick to run to him and ask if he needed the light turned on, pulled over a stool, and turned on the light. I've been had! The next day when it was time to get in the car again, she buckled him up, again. On the car ride, she began to not only care for her cousin but to watch my driving. Little show off. "Mommy, this way," she indicated with her hands, "now this way. That's it! Now go straight. Keep going. Keep going. Be careful. Now stop. (This when the stop sign appeared.) Mommy? Remember when I teached you to drive?" "No. When was that?" I figured this answer was going to be good. "Oh, a long time ago. I teached you so you'll be careful and not crash into another car." Right.... I guess I don't have to worry about her self-esteem. Now how do I teach her that I, as parent, don't always have to say please when asking her to do something, especially when she is misbehaving. Maybe I should ask Mackenzie since she seems to have all the answers. :)

Not Taylor's Fault

Taylor has now completed a year and a half of formal education. It used to be a real struggle to make it to school, and not be too, too late. For the last month we've been able to arrive at the first bell, most of the time. Well, on Thursday past, Mommy was tired from her standing in line at 5:30am to get Mackenzie into French Immersion next year, and Mackenzie was being a four-year old Mackenzie and easily side-tracked, putting on lipstick, changing her skirt three times, and so forth. Taylor got right to business. She packed her lunch into her back pack and got it to the front door, brushed her teeth and put toothpaste on Mommy and Kenzie's tooth brushes, then she got dressed in her snow pants, coat, hat, mitts, etc, before making a pile for Mommy and a pile for Mackenzie. Mommy's coat and shoes and Mackenzie's coat and shoes. Taylor had all this accomplished and was patiently waiting by the door for Kenzie and I to brush our teeth and get ready. No thanks to Mackenzie and I, Taylor arrived after the second that day, but before "Oh Canada" was played. Taylor told us later that someone was sent from Safe Arrival to her classroom to make certain she had made it to class. Hopefully, once Mackenzie starts school, they'll both be as efficient at getting ready in the morning.