Please don't answer back..

These days Nicole will have an answer to almost everything. When it's time for her revision, I ask her to read from a book (first readers) then she will say, "mummy, I'm too tired," although she was not tired three seconds ago when she was watching her DVD. Then I would say, "Come on, Nicole, reading is the most important thing to learn. If you can't read, you can't do anything. I didn't have TV or DVD when I was your age." To which she says (innocently, without any malice), "Well, you should have bought one."
I ask her not answer back. I said, "When mummy asks you to do something, I don't want to repeat twice, three times, Nicole. Just please do what mummy says. I love you and I always want the best for you. Please don't answer back." Then after telling her that, one time I asked her, "Nicole, what do you want for breakfast?" Silence. "Nicole? Did you hear me?" Then she looked at me with a genuine confusion "But you told me not to answer back?" oh, bless her cotton socks....
"Mummy, I have this funny feeling.... I think I'm bored" that's one of her favourite phrases now. And I would say, "No, Nicole, you're tired. It's past your bedtime now, go to bed. Nite-nite."

A Big Girl

I have to keep on reminding myself that Nicole is a big girl. I am so used to calling her "baby", "babe". At times she will say, "I AM NOT A BABY". So from now on, it has to be "big girl". However, sometimes I hug her tight and say, "You will always be my baby, won't you, Nicole?" She says, "When I grow older like you, will you become a baby like me, mummy?"
No, kiddo, I'll still be older than you.....