One Banana

Almost every morning, I am the one to get Margot up. We have a good routine down that begins with Kitty meow meow coaxing her out of bed and ends up with breakfast. I actually really enjoy my time with her in the morning, even though she can be a bit precocious. She has always been content to let Ben and I do most everything for her in terms of everyday living, but as she is growing and learning she is very much wanting to do things herself.

For the last four or five mornings, Margot has been insistent on peeling her own banana. When I give her a choice between and apple and a banana, it is always a resounding "PANANA! I DO IT!" Every morning, she has peeled the first three strips of yellow off and then the soft banana will crack and fall to the floor as she peels the last section. The first morning, I explained how she had to hold the banana with her other hand while peeling. The next day, I kind of just chuckled and again explained how to keep it from taking a dive. We would wash the banana off and I would wipe up the floor while she tried to figure out what had just happened.

This morning, I was tired. My toe was hurting, my alarm had given me a headache and I didn't shower. Margot was particularly obstinate about getting out of bed, and I was in no mood to clean up a big mess of banana smear on the floor. When she chose to eat a banana, I carefully tried to hide it so I could peel it for her. She quietly asked "Mommy, I do it. I peel." I reluctantly gave her the banana, and turned to get a rag for the clean up. When I turned around, instead of seeing a banana on the floor, she was ever so carefully holding (smooshing) the banana with her other hand and gently peeling off the yellow. She had did it; she had successfully peeled a banana.

Sometimes it is easy to get in a hurry, get caught up with taking care of everything in your own way because it is "easier". I know sometimes when I feel totally exasperated, I have to stop and remind myself that she is really still just a baby, and learning every single thing for the first time that I take for granted. Watching her this morning and seeing how proud of herself she was, my heart softened and I took a moment to tell her that I love her and give her a big kiss. She kind of snuggled against me, patted my arm and said "I love you too, Mommy. I peel panana today, ok?"

Ok indeed.