My children often bring me the greatest joy in life, but at times they can contribute largely to my frustration factor as well. Tonight, my youngest gave me a good laugh, one that I kept hidden until she had left the room mind you, but it also made me contemplate the pleasure that my kids bring me without them even realizing it.
I sent my eldest to the bedroom to put on her pajamas, and like her shadow, my youngest was hot on her heels. I stood in the kitchen talking to my husband when not two minutes later we hear screaming, followed by loud stomping back down the hallway toward the kitchen (this would be where the frustration factor comes in). Hands on hips, my four year old declares, "I went to make sure sissy was putting on her pajamas, and she wasn't, so I hit her in the stomach to get her to put on her pajamas, and THEN she hit me in the face!" If a four year old could be outraged by this "injustice" then that would be the word I would use to describe her tone and mannerisms. My husband and I exchanged THAT glance, and I asked, "You hit her in the stomach?" And she said, "Let's just skip that part. She hit me in the face!" Strong emphasis was placed on the latter part. Clearly she was hoping that I would simply ignore her part in the altercation, but the way she phrased it just made me want to laugh. In the end, I simply said, "Well it sounds like you are even." I can just see future explanations coming from her, "I went to make sure sissy put on her pajamas, and yada yada yada, she hit me in the face!"
