31 for 21, Day 25 - 2012

Snippet of my day.

Today I stuck to my guns and didn't pick up Maya and carry her in my arms after school.  This may seem like a small task, or you may ask, why can't you carry her?  99% of the kids walk to and from school (to the parking lot or the bus).  But Maya for what reason I have no idea, doesn't do that.  She stands in front of me and now she says "up".  If I don't pick her up she grabs my dress, she tugs, she sits on her bum and won't move.  And during the hot months, it's torture to stand there in 100 degree weather, trying to get her to walk with me.

The weather was manageable today.  I figure might as well start now.  She is on the verge of being 4 1/2 soon...33 pounds of dead weight and the most wiggly little monster in the world.  It's becoming more and more work to carry her around these days.  

How long does it take Maya to walk from school to the car? Well let's review: first stop, even before we get out of the school gate, she has to stop at the wagon, and try and play with it.  I play, "ready, get set, go!" with her, that usually works a couple of times.  Once we are out the gate the sidewalk fun begins.  I try and entice her, telling her, let's follow your classmates.  She sits on the ground.  Usually a very good tactic since at 90 degrees I'm ready to run for shade.  Today it was pleasant and I was determined....so I just stood there.  Encouraging her as much as I could, telling her she could do it.  "You wanna hold my hand?"  Um, no way!  She's too independent.  Ha ha!  We get to the entrance sign at the parking lot.  We are almost there I say.  Of course she has to read the letters on the sign, a game we played last year.  Then she takes another rest.  I wait patiently.  She gets up and turns to look at the parked bikes.  Ok down the curb to the parking lot that was a big step.  She sees more letters, opps, I forgot about that.  Ironically it says no parking on the ground, and soon she's sitting and proceeds to lay down trying to take her backpack off.  Finally I take the backpack and pretend to start running.  She runs after me.   Yes! We are at the car.  I feel like I've just completed the most difficult task of my day.  That is getting a four year old to do what you want them to do. 

Triumph!