Child Psychology and Other Fun

Ok, some things I've noticed in the past week-and-a-half of being a full-time mom:

1. The weeks are going by incredibly slow, yet the days themselves are incredibly fast.
2. We are running the dishwasher a hell of a lot more. Plus the washing machine.
   
3. I don't remember or care what I had or will have for dinner. J2, you and J1 are wise to wait for kids. Once they come, forget about leisurely enjoying your wine and cheese!!!
   
4. Mornings--already not my finest time of day--are going to be bad for you if you piss me off by not brushing your teeth or putting your clothes on after the 3rd time I tell you to. I actually raised my voice yesterday to the baby, startling the both of us, but it got the job done.
   
5. Some things you just gotta ignore. Such as, an unmade bed (mine) and annoying chatter (hers).
   
6. When she sings along with me to Maurice Sendak's Alligators All Around and does clever, cute things that make me crack up, it's all worth it.
   

Now she is at her Auntie J.'s house, I'm at work, and S is in traffic court, hopefully getting his case dismissed after 3 years. I had to put in a couple of phone calls to the deputy that gave him the tickets and the deputy said he'd take care of it for me, so I only hope he follows through. I haven't heard from him yet though, and even sent him an email.

Yesterday the baby saw my office for the 1st time. I had to pick her up early and we went home and chilled out for awhile before I had to come back to work. She got to finally meet my coworkers, too. Now they have living proof that I have a child! Then we went to an evening meeting at the house of one of my fellow Hispanic Health Coalition board members, where we ordered in a bunch of Chinese and, incidentally, had a meeting.

I registered the baby for Vacation Bible School, which is next week, Monday-Friday from 9am-12:15. I figure I'll pick her up on my lunch hour and then take her to Auntie J.'s. I think she'll have fun and a week of learning about Jesus will be good for her! Plus, it's free!

One other thing about the baby: although S can't stand Angelina Jolie, I know what she means when she says that she does not have empathy for her child with Brad Pitt, or at least when compared to the feelings that she has for the 3 kids she's adopted. I've seen her say this in 2 interviews already. While it might sound a little harsh, I can sympathize with the sentiment. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of empathy for the baby, although S does have a lot for her--sometimes way too much. But I don't b/c I feel like the baby is very priviliged b/c she has me in her life. What I mean is, I am going to expect a lot from her, but on the other hand I am going to give her a lot. She has in me a mother that is killing herself to save her child, and working all these jobs and paying all this money and fighting an unbelievable fight and doing everything possible to win the war. Most children in this world and even this country don't have anyone to go to bat for them anywhere near this extent. Additionally, I'm doing all I can to force my brilliant mind and extraordinary worldview on her so that she can start soaking up as much as possible. Even yesterday while we were at the board meeting, while we were waiting for the Chinese to arrive I worked with the baby on her numbers workbook. I am constantly working with her, teaching her, molding her. So she's being given a lot, and so I am going to expect a lot in return. And just like I recognize strong, indeniable traits and behaviors--both good and some very bad--in me and my brother thanks to our parents, I despise yet accept the fact that the baby unfortunately is going to be cursed with some biological traits from the whore. So when the baby misbehaves or lies or has attitude--which, admittedly, is not often--I immediately think, "whore-influenced behavior" and I probably react a little too harshly towards it. I know she's only 5, but as her mother it's my duty and responsibility to society and the baby to squash and kill her crappy behavior and as much of those whore-influenced traits as I can! Hopefully at the end of the day, she ends up being patterned biologically more like S anyway, which would be wonderful for us and the world! So far that does seem to be the case, amazingly and thanks to God.