Guess who decided to try coloring on the carpet last night, because she thought it might be fun?
Not me. Not the cat. He has a hard time opening the Rubbermaid bin of crayons.
I was picking up toys last night pre-vacuuming, while Zoey was or wasn't putting on her pajamas, when I saw what looked like a blue and yellow rainbow on the gray carpet right near the sliding glass door. Not an oops-I-colored-off-the-page scribble, but a pre-meditated rainbow.
Me: ZOEY. Get out here. NOW.
Zoey: (Skittering around the corner and stopping short when she sees me standing over the evidence) What, Mommy?
Me: What? WHAT? How about WHAT IS THIS?
Zoey: It's color crayon. On the floor.
Me: I see that! How did it get there?!
Zoey: I did it... (large brown eyes beginning to fill with tears as she watches me swoop up her beloved coloring book and crayons)
Me: *pointing*
Zoey: *wailing all the way to the time-out chair*
After a time-out lasting long enough for me to cool down and spray a generous amount of Resolve on the carpet, Zoey tip-toed back to the livingroom to hug me around the knees.
Me: What do you need to say?
Zoey: I'm sorry! I'm sorry I colored on the floor!
(This I considered to be progress, since her standard line following any time-out is 'I'm sorry for not listening'. While it applies to a vast majority of visits to the chair, it doesn't cover them all, and I get annoyed when she seems to be apologizing for whatever she thinks will get me off her back.)
Me: That was a bad choice, Zoey. I thought you were big enough to have your color crayons out in the livingroom, but I see I was wrong. From now on, you're only allowed to color at the table.
Her little face fell, totally crestfallen. One tweak to the rules, and she was heartbroken.
Motherhood brings with it so much power.
I'm kidding. It was actually a little sad to see her so broken up over not being allowed to color any place she chooses. But also reassuring, in a way--she knew she screwed up, and she felt bad.
Me: (after hugs and Kleenex) Zoey? WHY did you color on the carpet? You know that's naughty.
Zoey: Oh. I thought it would be fun. That's why.
At least she's honest.
2 comments:
Aw....but I know exactly how you feel. I thought Will was old enough to color on his own, and he took a black ballpoint pen to the kitchen table. A wood-finish kitchen table, and it's etched. Augh!!! No amount of cleaning or magic eraser is going to get that sucker.
They should have a mom-chemical that when sprayed, it renders that item impervious to the strength and determination of a crayon-wielding toddler. I'd like to develop that...you want in? :)
Well, yep at least she is honest... :)
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