This has been kind of a week of tested boundaries. Maggie wants to know how infuriated we can get when she deliberately does the opposite of what we ask or when she completely ignores a question. Sometimes I felt like yelling in her face "I know you understand English!" But parenting requires a little bit of control, so there have been some consequences she hasn't been all too pleased with, but mostly controlled tempers (on the parents' side at least).
The other half of the time (I know, probably more like 85%), she is the sweetest thing. I love it when she talks to me like I'm a baby. She dips her chin low, looks up at me with huge eyes and raised eyebrows, and sing-songs some instruction while giving a few little nods: "We're going to go over here now. Okaaaaay?" And when we had a dinner party with some friends, all the other kids stayed at their table for five minutes before racing off, crashing toys around and calling for mom. Maggie sat at the kids' table for probably half an hour, occasionally bringing her plate to me for more noodles and beans. When other kids got close on a pass-by, she'd offer up some of their food from their plate, and if they refused, well, Maggie did ask first if they wanted it.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: There's a reason God makes em cute (85% of the time).
