You know all the funny pictures you see on the web of the toddlers and their trails of destruction as massive as a tornado? The Desitin covered room? The television covered in paint? The child covered in peanut butter? Ring any bells? Add this one right there with them.
I had to leave to go to a meeting at school while the toddler was taking a nap. Daddy and the oldest were both home, so how much trouble could a sleeping toddler really get in to? When she woke up she decided to play in her room for a little while. Then somehow stealthily snuck over to the laundry room and found the paint roller I had used to paint her tv cabinet. I had sealed in in a bag in case I needed to use it for touch ups. My mistake.
When I walk in the door she comes running down the hall shouting: "TA DA!!"
I'm sure I resembled one of those cartoon characters with their eyeballs popping out of their sockets.
My first thought was that she got into big sister's lipstick. Second thought, marker. Never would I have imagined paint.
It was everywhere. Her hands, feet, nightgown, face and hair. It was on her newly installed floor (I didn't stop to take a picture of that-I started cleaning immediately after I gave her a bath) and her tv. Once I thought I had cleaned it all up, I found the laundry room had been decorated as well.
Now, before anyone says "why wasn't someone watching her?" let me assure you she wasn't alone. She's three and a half and very independent. All children need to play and have adventures without a microscope on them every second of every day. Children have to learn and grow on their own as much as they do with other people. They need to feel a sense of freedom. Not too much, but just enough. No, I am not a free reign mom. Far from it. More of a helicopter parent actually. It's the micro seconds they get and do some damage. To her, this was hilarious because pink is her favorite color. I don't have enough pink in her closet for her to wear it everyday, so in her little mind this was the solution.
Helicopter in full mode, I will be watching more closely for those micro seconds. Before my entire house is redecorated in nail polish and pink paint.
☮ & ❤
~A~
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