The Boss

"Kids are definitely the boss of you. Anyone who will barge into the room while you are on the commode is the boss of you. And when you explain to them that you're on the commode and that they should leave but they don't? That's a high-level boss." Tina Fey

So Charlie is the boss of Seth and I. In so, so many ways.

-If I eat my string cheese the way it is meant to be eaten-pulling pieces off in long strings-she tells me, "No! Like this. {CHOMP}!" Meaning, I need to take big bites off the end. No stringing allowed.

-When Seth gets home from work we are not allowed to talk to each other. If I dare strike up a conversation she puts her hand up in a "STOP!" action and says "STOP TALKING DADDY." (meaning to Daddy). She'll do the same to Seth, "STOP TALKING MOMMY!"

-We are not allowed to sing unless she requests it. Heaven forbid I get a song stuck in my head and accidentally sing a few bars, "No singing mommy!"

-My hair is not allowed to be pulled up in a ponytail or messy bun. Apparently it is so offensive to her that she will cry over it, "Mommy, no hair up {WAIL}!" She really doesn't cry often so it is fascinating to me she is willing to let the tears spill over this. If I come into a room with my hair down after having it up that day Charlie will say, "Mommy! Hair down! So toot! So toot!" And she will stroke it and laugh and just be adorably happy about it.

-Whenever we need to leave I always give Charlie a count down. Something like, "Charlie you can go down the slide two more times, then we have to go." She is always ok with this until we get to the number one. "Charlie only ONE more time down the slide." She then starts in on the countering. "No. Five." She doesn't ask for one or two more. It is five every time. I personally think she is going to be a great salesperson when she grows up because she usually gets her five more times.

-Charlie asks us to tell stores ALL. THE. TIME. "Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? Story? " FINE! I will tell you a story! I probably tell 20 stories a day. And if I tell the story in a way she doesn't like she will tell me about it. "No, mommy! Then dragon come." Oh, I am so sorry the MY story isn't how YOU want it. Geez. I have recently started asking her to tell me a story and her response: "Noooo, Charlie toooooooo busy." (Right now she asks for stories about Belle, King Triton, Flounder, and Prince Philip. Oh, and she is either marrying Prince Philip or Daddy depending on the day.)

I just want to let you know that even though Charlie is quite bossy, she really is the sweetest thing and I just love her to death. If I ever feel like she is being a little too bossy or mean I'll say, "Charlie, can you be nice to mommy?" and she will repeat whatever she was saying in the sweetest high-pitched voice and big old smile and a really long "pleeeeeaaaase?" She really is just a sweetheart.