The Pint-Sized Tyrant

These are trying times, I tell you. My sweet little girl who, granted, has had her moments in the past, has turned into a four-year-old roller coaster ride for our family. These are the best of times and the worst of times. (My apologies to Dickens and the butchering of great writing) Some days I don't think I'll make it to five. Recently, I was describing the trials and tribulations at our house to a friend and she murmured, "pint-sized tyrant." "That's it!" I yelled with the zeal of Sally in a Peanuts episode (refer to A Charlie Brown Xmas). The house is being ruled by a pint-sized tyrant with very definitive views of what should and should not occur. It brings no end of gnashing and torment to everyday activities as mundane as using the potty or brushing teeth or clipping fingernails. A battle of wills that I know, unfortunately, I will always lose.

I'm just older and tired. Her tenacity is far greater than mine. Likewise, these "rules" apply to the placement of objects around the house. What was once a cute preoccupation and an outlet for her creative little mind has become a living space overrun with animal habitats and small creature (Fur Family anyone?) communities everywhere... not to mention the Princesses and their whole scene. And, God forbid, you move anyone or anything out of it's place. Enter, the allowance.

For my daughter's fourth birthday, we purchased a piggy bank as her gift. She is really interested in money and saving money (thank goodness that apple fell far from the tree.) So, every once in awhile she is highly agreeable to doing a little "pick-up" in exchange for a quarter "allowance." Often, works like a charm and we both feel good about the negotiations. And, although I complain, I have to admit, her imagination is astounding to me and the tableaus are amazingly cute. Who wouldn't love that the Princesses packed up all their stuff, jumped in the wooden coupe (Plan Toys) and headed out to their "camp" which happens to be a fairy pop-up book that has this amazing tree configuration at the end? Each princess gets to tuck into her own section of the tree each night at "Camp." And she is really into concepts of family and marriage so there is a constant flux of relationships and mixed families among the creatures and characters. I love it. I truly don't think I was that creative when I was younger and treasure all her insight.

And she's doing me a world-of-good regarding my potential OCD complex. You can be resentful to your husband for not picking stuff up (luckily, my husband is exceptionally indulgent to me in this matter) but it's hard to get mad at your four-year-old for her stuff being strewn about. Face it- everyone lives in the house and, from her perspective, most of the stuff isn't hers. What's the harm in having a few toys underfoot and all about? Like everything else I'm sure, one day, way too soon, I'll miss these days. Now, just tryin' to get to five...