The Resolution of a Problem

Recently--and by recently I mean for about a year--we've been doing our best to deal with a problem.  It's not a great or tragic problem, more of an annoyance.  Though it could cause health problems in the future and illustrates a definite "I'm going to do what I want" kind of behavior.  The problem was with my dearest Lily.  And candy.  Or brownies.  Or chocolate chips.  Or whatever the treat of the week, she would eat it.

She's sneaky, unfortunately, she gets that from me.  I can remember being really good at being sneaky, doing naughty things that were obvious--like those my less sneaky sister would do--then letting my sister take the fall.  Lily hasn't done that yet, thank GOD, but she was waking up early, not waking me and getting into what ever sweet thing she could remember was in the house.  Nothing was beyond her reach.  Chairs, counters and books were her accomplices and her prize was the goodies.

Easter before last I came out to the dining room early in the morning to find Lily, chocolate on her face, buried in a pile of candy wrappers.  She looked up at me and with an appropriately timed burp, "Mommy, I don't feel good."

About a month ago I made a large batch of brownies.  We ate about five pieces from a 13x9 pan.  The next morning I again woke up to some small noises from the general direction of the kitchen.  When I came out I found she had devoured all but about 3 pieces from the rest of the pan!

We tried everything: time outs, spankings, taking privileges, everything we could think of and nothing worked. I was so frustrated! I even tried to not keep any sweets at all in the house but you can't stop Grammies and Papas and Grandmas from bringing treats.  So, our house remained sweet-ed, and the sweets continued to be eaten.

Then, a few weeks ago, I instituted a new rule; sweets and such had to be asked for and given permission for BUT she could get fruit when ever and however often she wanted.  And I would do my best to keep the house stocked with some kind of fruit at all times.  I figured that even if she was snacking on fruit before dinner or lunch at least it was really good for her and I was okay with her filling up on it since it was so nutritious.  I thought of this rule, not to stem off the sneaking of sweets, but simply so that I wouldn't have to constantly try to think of what to offer when the "mommy-I'm-hungries" struck again (she's been growing a lot this year!).  But, low and behold, it's the thing that has stopped the stealing of yums!

Lily, about 20 months old, thoroughly enjoying a McDonald's kid's cone.
 The beginning of the sweet-aholic!

The Big 5!!

My dearest Lily,

You are so big now.  You're witty and quick.  I am not.  I think you get that from your daddy.  You just turned 5 and we got you a big girl bike.  Unfortunately, you're not quite big enough for the bike we got you.  But by the way you've been "eating us out of house and home" (that's your favorite saying lately) that big girl bike won't be too big for very long.

Things have been crazy around here with me babysitting your cousin so you've been missing your daddy a lot.  Today you went on a "Daddy Date".  You're going to go shopping and return some recycling.  When Daddy was getting in the shower you came in and asked, "Whatcha doin', Daddy?"

Lily, River Front Park Carousel 3 days before her 5th birthday

"I have to take a shower, sweetie."
"Oh, okay.  Can you shave too?" I laughed a little at that request, you're daddy's not one known for shaving except on Sunday's for church.
"Um, sure, I can shave," he said chuckling.

You came in a little while later while he was shaving--you love to watch Daddy shave, I'm not sure why but you always try to take a little time and watch every time he does it--and asked, "Daddy, do you have time to shave your head too?"  I guess that's what you get from your mommy.  You like your man to look good when he's out with you!  Way to go girl!

You're definitely a girl who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it.  I hope you are able to keep that as you grow.  We love you so much, Lillers!

Love,
Mommy