Maggie's cold lingered. And lingered. And lingers. This was a week when you realize that the terrible twos will in fact be terrible. Terrible. When you repeat to yourself that studies show how parents' happiness levels increase dramatically at three years. You will not always want to leave your child to be raised by wolves. Other kids have survived that way. But if you just make it for another year and a half, then you'll be glad to still have guardianship. She won't be throwing tantrums forever.
She's such a lovely person when she's feeling well. She's happy and communicative and smiles and allows occasional snuggles. And there were certainly moments like that this week (see above video for your cuteness quota this week). But when she's under the weather she doesn't take direction well, doesn't take medicine well, and just generally wants to kvetch. Yeah, I get it. That's how I want to act when I'm sick too.
So we persevere. Push through that stuffy nose and grungy cough. Forget the tantrum writhing on the public bathroom floor where there was no soap in the dispenser. Explain to the visiting relatives that she's currently a bit touchy and don't take it personally. And then miraculously she turns a corner and feels a little better and you can get her to dance and eat some vegetables and laugh when you tickle her and stay up a little past bedtime to play a game.
Today is a better day. She's not yet three, but we're feeling happy.