Drama queens. If you have a little
girl, you know what I’m talking about. They could beat Scarlett O’Hara in an
over-the-top reaction contest and some could win an Oscar for their
performances. Paisley often shows off her acting skills. My four-year-old stepdaughter
produces award-winning scenes, which cause me both to giggle and worry. Just a
few weeks ago, she, Jacob and I were watching a movie in our big bed after
bedtime. We don’t usually let her sleep with us, but we make a few exceptions.
Paisley was in between us. She started gently stroking my hair. I knew
something was coming. Then she started to rub my cheek with the other hand.
“Jessica…I just don’t feel good,” she said in her most pitiful tone, displaying
her most sad face, with her lip poked out. “I just don’t feel good…because I
just need some popcorn.” I accidentally let out a tiny laugh, trying to
suppress it. I had to then explain to her that we don’t eat popcorn after
bedtime or in the bed as she continued her show.
This
past Wednesday night, she needed to go potty after already being tucked in. I
walked into her bathroom ahead of her and noticed the toilet had not been
flushed. I pushed the lever and water began to flow out forcefully onto the
tile floor. “Jacob!” I yelled. He came to the rescue with the plunger, Paisley
pottied in our bathroom and I tucked her back in her bed. “Jessica, I’m just
really sad,” she started. I was looking forward to this. Every night, she tries
every tactic possible to get me to stay in her room a little longer. “Well, why
are you sad?” I asked. “I’m just really sad because my toilet overflowed in my
bathroom,” she said in her pitiful voice. After deflecting her many other
attempts after the sad toilet act, I went to my bedroom. Five minutes later,
she knocked on the bedroom door. “I’m scared,” she said. I wasn’t sure if she
was really scared or just trying out another tactic, but I let her get in the
bed with us anyway. That will not happen again for a while. She talked until about
11 o’clock after several attempts by her daddy and me to make her be quiet and
still. Then, she rose up out of bed cheerfully at about 7 a.m. Jacob and I were
looking forward to sleeping in. That did not happen.
When
you have drama queens in the house, there is never a dull moment. Another
bedtime adventure last week included me not letting Paisley have a book in her
bed. She tries everything to keep herself awake, including talking to every one
of her stuffed animals and baby dolls. A book would only further her endeavor. After
I left the room, I heard her talking rather loudly and most pitifully,
sniffling every once in a while. “Jesus,” she said. “I just wanted a book….”
Those are the only words I could make out. She called me into her room about two
minutes later. “I was talking to Jesus. Do you know what I said?” she asked. “I
said they wouldn’t let me have a book.”
Well
I couldn’t blame her for talking to Jesus, but I had to share with her what the
Bible says about honoring your parents.
Little
girls can be so entertaining. For now, I hope she'll reign in her inner Scarlett while we attempt nap time.
