no, mommy...don't touch it.

having a two year old is, at most moments, one of the most entertaining things i have yet encountered. i realize that there are times when this age is rather...trying. i think i've escaped, so far, the worst of that, however, because my two year old is still sweet, loving and, sometimes, obedient and helpful. she's also extremely observant. she picks up on everything from my words (obviously) to my tone, gestures, body language, etc. she practices her mothering on her sister and the dog, and she's pretty good for her age. she sounds exactly like me. and, from listening to her, i realize something that my husband has probably known for years: i'm really bossy!

i'm used to the usual things, such as her looking at me with her head tilted to the side and a bit forward to say "be patient" or "it's mine." but lately, she's getting bolder. i was on the phone with my mom the other day when she comes up to me in the kitchen and informs me that she wants her horse (a toy, of course). i told her i don't know where it is. she helpfully points to the door and tells me it's "in the car". i was on the phone, so i obviously wasn't going to drop everything and go out to get it. it was cold! so i told her i was busy and she would have to be patient (not a toddler's strong point, but it was worth a try). she then put on her serious mommy face and said quite clearly "no mommy, don't touch the chair." i looked at her, mouth agape, and said "excuse me?" so she repeated: "no mommy, don't touch the chair." then added, "go get it." in other words, get out of the chair (thereby not touching it) and get your bottom out to the car to get my toy! i should have explained that it was rude to talk like that to mommy, but i was too busy laughing. it was just too funny. bossy little girl, yes, but quite bright. i have since heard the same variation of that when i'm using the computer, reading a book, cooking dinner, and cleaning. the last two i am perfectly happy to abandon for her, i might add, because that's just the sort of loving mother i am.

on top of this, i have also been put into time out by the little shrew for "taking from jie jie (big sister in chinese)" when i have to relieve her of some inappropriate item, for "hitting jie jie" when i have to peel her hair off of her sucker sticky cheeks, for "pushing jie jie" when i try to hurry her on when we're late, and for "screaming at jie jie" when i'm telling her for the tenth time not to color on my walls (yes, the newly painted walls). all of these are worded in the "no, mommy, no taking, hitting, pushing, screaming, etc." formate. then she demands that i give her an apology for each one. she does this with mali and wang cai, too, so i don't feel too bad. after all, at least i didn't chew up diapers, so i'm not really the most naughty...though i do tend to end up in time out more often than mali....