My three-year-old is so sweet. I love this age and stage of her life.
If I say, “I love you, Palauma,” she immediately responds, “I love YOU, Mama,” with just the right amount of insanely cute squeak in her voice, and she never misses a beat.
If I sing, “Mama loves Palauma, ” she’ll croon right back, “Palauma loves Mama.”
Lately, though, she’s been adding a little something extra to her declarations of love.
The other day I said, “I love you,” to which she replied, “I love you, too. And I don’t want you to die.”
Whoa…Wha? Where did that come from?
She says it a lot now and it’s really starting to creep me out. Maybe because she says it with a huge, squinty-eyed, almost fake smile. That and the fact that when I walk through the door after work, or even a short run, she runs up to hug me and says, “I’m glad you made it back, mama.” Really? Was there a chance I wouldn’t? Does she know something I don’t?
Sure, none of us knows when our number will be up, but that doesn’t stop me from imagining my golden years. And, of course, in my old age I picture at least one of my kids taking care of me…one of the perks of having 4 kids, right? Since there’s a 1 in 4 chance that duty will befall my youngest, I might as well plant the seeds of her fate now.
She recently caught me having a pity party about grown up things, like saaay…our future financial security. I was crying my eyes out when she brought me an almond and asked, “Mama, will this feel you better?” I hugged her close, then looked her in the eyes,
“When you’re a grown up, you’ll take care of me, right?”
She squealed, “Yeah! I’ll take care of you mama, and you take care of me cuz I’m a baby!”
“Oh yeah…how do I take care of you?”
“You feed me. You go get me to sleep. You wake up me. You help put on me a dress. You get me on the toilet to go pee. You get me on the toilet again to go poop. You get my little shoes on and you pick me up and we go outside. You make a happy face and I make happy face.”
And I did, right then and there, break into a happy face. Even when she added, “And I don’t want you to die.”
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so sweet (even if she is afraid you won’t return). And, I just love the photo!
MJ from iNeedaPlaydate recently posted..My Bathroom is My Refuge
Thanks so much Mary!
If we’re being honest, I don’t want you to die either.
There. I said it.
angel
xoxox
P.S. Definitely don’t die before the bonfire party and the color me rad race. Those things sound fun.
P.P.S. I like all my friends alive. But I love all my besties LIVELY. Soooo, your current required live status has been bumped up.
P.P.P.S. All of us Tsunamis have fun animal face hats. Aums and Tsunamis rock.
Angel, I have a feeling Aums and Tsunamis have a lot of future fun in store for them, and I want to be around for all of it!
Ok Christine…..I guess you are the one for me….but grandpa said he is on his own or maybe Paul will have that honor
I accept my fate
so sweet and yes, sort of creepy! She’s not a child of the corn is she?? Just kidding. I love your hats!
Leah recently posted..Can’t Wait to Slow Down
Leah, you totally get my gist…total Children of the Corn moment, every single time!
What a sweet girl. I’m thinking I need a hat just like yours.
Jessica recently posted..The Home That Is Always Open
It originally belonged to my husband but I loved it so much b/c it didn’t crush my hair…so I had to steal it.
This is so sweet and sad, but mostly sweet. I love the love of children and their innocence. It always humbles me. Always.
It really was sweet to hear her tell me how I take care of her…3 year olds tell it like it is.
Awww that is sweet. She loves her Mama.
And her mama loves her!
I love your writing and I don’t want it to die ( sounds even creepier when a middle aged woman says it) . You two are cute to the max.
Stasha recently posted..Monday Listicles
Lol, Stasha! It would be creepy if I just started adding that phrase after everything. (To my husband)…Don’t forget to take out the trash, and I don’t want you to die.
i just LOLed. Now, really. Belly jiggling kinda LOL…
Stasha recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
AAaawww……..
Angus recently posted..Ray Bradbury
Aummmm…….
Oh goodness…I love that picture! My 6 year old talks about death and dying a lot lately too…hoping it’s just a phase he’ll grow out of soon.
xo
Runnermom-jen recently posted..Things That Make Me Smile
Jen, my 3 y.o. adding this phrase to her repertoire has opened up many a conversation about death lately with all the Aumies. Can’t believe I’m actually craving potty talk again!
yeah, that’s a little creepy but ultimately really sweet. <3
OT and ET recently posted..loretta at three and a half months
So sweet, especially in her high-pitched squeaky voice. Love having these deep conversations with her
That is so cute! My son started with some comments like that around age four. I was just glad he didn’t want me to die.
Jessica @FoundtheMarbles recently posted..Comment on #VlogMom: Tips for Attending a Conference by Jessica
Yeah, I’d say that’s always a good thing
Hahahaha I’m crying and laughing at the same time! This is adorable! You crack me up
Jeanne recently posted..The calm
Thank you for sending me this link. I laughed out loud at some of the situations you wrote about. Kids get so caught up in weird obsesions. Mabe you’re right and it IS an age related stage. Mine’s also obsessed with killing flies.
You’re welcome! I keep hearing from parents of the 2.5 to 3.5 crowd that their kids are talking about death…but none of them seem to mention them doing it with a creepy smile on their face…that must just be my kid.
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