Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Everywhere, signs.

Before I even get started on the story I intended to share, I interrupt this blog post for a tangential thought.  Dear lord, please let's all hope I can eventually remember what I came here for in the first place.

Tangential thought: one of the best parts of being a parent is getting to mess with your kids.  I personally believe bonus parent points can be awarded if you can mess with your kids in such a way that they know they are being messed with, but the reference is far too obscure for them to understand.  Just before Christmas, we took the kids to Lincoln Park Zoo to see the zoo lights.  Note that I say we went to see the zoo lights and not the animals, because the animals, largely, were missing or sleeping.  Also, parts of the zoo were closed or undergoing renovations.  There were signs everywhere explaining why animals were missing or exhibits were closed.  So, the kids kept asking, "What does that sign say?"  And every time they asked me that, I would tell them, "Long haired freaky people need not apply."

But I digress.  Here's where I was going before the train immediately derailed:

Last year for Mothers' Day, Ella made me a gift at daycare.  It was a little sign to hang on my bedroom door (or, presumably, on any door with a knob), that says "Mommy's quiet time."  Ella's teacher explained to a bunch of three- and four-year-olds that they should give their moms time to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet, so when the sign is on the door, they should leave their moms alone. (Right.  But a sweet idea, nonetheless.)

I was cleaning up my bedroom last night and came across the sign on my dresser, so I hung it on my door knob.  When I got home tonight, I discovered that Ella had moved the sign from my door to her door.  My first thought was, "Ella stole my quiet time.  Oh, the irony!"  But then I realized that she moved the sign off my door knob to make room to hang the giant fancy heart she decorated for me for Valentine's Day. 

She's a sweet kid--even if she did steal my quiet time.