Being Little: The Bane of Her Existence

It's so hard to be two when you think you're 10.

Mira, like many youngest children, absolutely does not recognize the age gap between her and the big kids. In her mind, they are all exactly equal: she can do everything they can do and go everywhere they can go (this type of thinking is definitely going to cause problems when she's three and Ethan starts driving). The worst part is, there are so many big kids around. Yes, there are our three, but the norm on weekends and all summer seems to be a whole gaggle of kids in our house and yard. (We're that house - the one that looks like I'm running a daycare and/or I'm the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe). Today the teens, 'tweens and ten-year-olds numbered seven - and that's not including the ones who live here. As always, the yard is strewn with balls, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk (so classy).

Mira revels in the activity - until they decide to do something she can't do, or simply decide they're done playing with her (let's face it: her aversion to sharing or taking turns gets old. Also, she's a bit of a hinderance when you're trying to go one-on-one with the basketball and she's planted under the hoop).

When the kids jump on their bikes or it's time for the only member of the group who naps to come inside, she falls to pieces. It's really pitiful. She hurls herself at the latched door like a sitcom character trapped in a locked bathroom. She writhes, twists, flops and screams: "ABBY! G! ABBY! G!" ("G" is Gracie. It's ironic but sweet that she thinks her sisters, who are desperate to sneak away from her, will swoop to her rescue when her cruel parents make her come inside). She exhausts herself; teary, snotty, hoarse and heartbroken.

It's worth mentioning that this tragic scene plays out at our house at least twice a day when the kids aren't in school.

The prospect of a whole summer filled with this anguish is a little daunting, not only because the episodes are draining, but because she is a determined and fearless little girl - meaning that she will try to escape back outside to track down the big kids (who may have biked to the coffee shop). That means the adult in charge has to be focused and on top of things. Oh, SO not a good role for me and my muddlement (!)

Some recent pictures...

Watching TV with (on) Ethan