I knew that this day would come. I have watched my friends go through it and thought to myself...that is going to be me one day soon. As well tempered as Leah is, I knew that she was going to do it. So, tonight, we had our first full blown temper tantrum. Naturally, it was over the silliest thing in the world. Mommy wanted Daddy to read bedtime stories. Yup. That's it. But, because Leah didn't ask or request or tell Daddy to read bedtime stories it was not okay. She cried and said "no daddy mommy read". I stood my ground, Dave sat in the rocking chair and we waited. Leah, being as persistent as she is, just kept saying "no daddy mommy read" and then bawled her eyes out. I know it was a silly thing and I know it might not have been the best battle to take on. But, all evening it was demanding and bossy Leah. No Mommy, come Mommy, no holding, no helping, no, no, no. I think that I had just had enough. Enough of the attitude and the demanding little boss thinking its her way and only her way.
In the end, however, she stopped crying, walked over to her Daddy patiently sitting and waiting in the rocking chair and climbed into his lap and asked "Daddy book read please." It just about broke my heart. Then she gave her Daddy a big long hug good night. I had a little talk with her about bossing people around and how Leah won't always get her way. She always says "okay Mommy" when we have these talks. I am pretty sure they go right over her head. Even though I try to use as many three word sentences as possible. And off to bed Leah went.
I did learn something about myself today. I have little patient's for bossy, demanding little girls. But, I have a thick sink and can sit there and watch the temper tantrum knowing that she is just a bottle full of emotions that are going to spill over but in the end she knows that we all love each other.
