Tough February

Stinkus is ready for March.  In the words of Sassy:  "She's had a tough February."  Indeed she has--poor girl.  In the past, I've worried about Sassy achieving all of the "firsts" in our house.  Well, I'm sorry/glad to say that Stinkus is fighting for her fair share of the glory.  In the past two weeks alone, she's managed to accomplish a few firsts around here:
1.  Crack her head open on a doorway and send us scrambling to the nearest emergency room.  (I'm guessing with the way she resumed running laps when we got home that this won't be our last visit. . . )
2.  Get her fingers shut in the car door (though we can blame this on a very remorseful big sister.  Sassy boo-hooed long after Stinkus had forgetten that her fingers hurt.)
3.  Lock herself in a room (AGAIN.)  At least this time, I could pop a paper clip in the little hole and unlock it--last time required busting the door frame apart.  Note to hubby--you still need to fix the door frame. . .  It's still amazing to me that we've had the same doors now for eight years and THIS child figures out how to lock them.

She's also sprouted a big goose egg from falling at Grandma's AND continued to exasperate me with potty training.  Though today she only had one accident (right after I put real panties on her. . .  Great timing there. . . )  On top of all of this, she's started a new daycare center and mornings have been a bit traumatic.  She's figured out that I'm a teacher and I think since this is her first "school" environment, she's decided that I need to stay and be HER teacher.  (Heaven help those children if I had to deal with multiple kiddos under the age of 12. . . )  I know that the meltdown only lasts for five minutes--it's good to have friends who drop off right after me--but man, it's tough getting out the door when her arms and legs are wrapped around me and she's crying, "I just want yooooouuuuu, Mama!"  A teacher peels her off and then the blood-curdling screaming begins as I try to get out without a meltdown of my own.  Bleh.  Tough February indeed.

But once again, I get a little dose of perspective from a friend whose son is going to Children's Mercy.  And no matter how "bad" of a February we seemed to have, it doesn't come close to what S is going through.  And I'm reminded how fragile these days are.  I'm not thrilled about the ER glue that will us cost hundreds of dollars but it's ok.  Stinkus is ok.  And she didn't do too much damage to the wall.  :)  The morning meltdowns will end and I know that she loves her school and they love her, and as a working mama, that's all that matters.  You want someone loving your baby when you can't be there.  I just have to remind myself that most of the "problems" we have are as fleeting as the months.  This too shall pass.  Although I have to wonder if life with Stinkus will ALWAYS keep me on my toes. . .   :)