This Princess

This little princess's world has changed somewhat in the last few weeks.

   

(Yes? Hm? Can I help you?)

She's gotten bigger. I know because when Daddy lays her down to rock her and sing to her she says emphatically "Dad, I'm NOT a baby!" She points at the moon and says "look Mom, a sliver moon!" And she's right, and I don't remember teaching her that. She sings "I am a Child of God" almost all the way through. She knows all her colors. She puts on her own pants and can almost put on her coat. She takes off all her clothes and when I ask why she says "I like being naked, Mommy!"Yes, she has gotten bigger.

And that means Brad and I have had to start to discipline her.

Oh how I wish I could just kiss her little lips and poke her little tummy and hear her little giggle and feel her little head resting on my shoulder forever and ever, just love her like that forever.

But then I wouldn't be doing my job.

 So, now, if she's not helping pick up toys she has to sit in a chair all by herself. If she whines I have to ignore her and say "talk nicely, Breanna!" If she won't eat her supper she can't have a glass of milk or a banana. And when she purposely spills her water all over the floor and Brad, (who I have never heard raise his voice to her or get mad at her in any way), yells "HEY!" really loud...

I take her aside and whisper, Breanna, go tell Daddy you're just a little girl.

And she does. With a tiny little, heartbroken pout to accompany it.

Yes, she is getting bigger. And I must say wiser. Because now every time I discipline her she cries helplessly in her teeny tiny voice with her teeny tiny little pout:

"But MOM! I'm just a little girl!"

And my heart just aches.