"Daddy, I Colored On the Walls"

Moments ago I was sitting here in our study catching up on some on-line news while the girls quietly played in the kitchen. I had been intently watching them for a little over an hour while Victoria scooted to run some quick errands. (Barret was over at a friend's house.)  I figured things were well enough that I could leave them alone for a short time; besides, they were within earshot and literally within view with the simple turn of my head over my right shoulder.  After just a few minutes, Poppy sauntered into the study and said with a rather nonplussed voice, "Daddy, I colored on the walls."  So, I got up to take a look at what had happened while thinking to myself, "How much damage could she cause in just a few minutes?", and sure enough, she not only colored on the walls, but on the cupboards, oven, microwave and wainscoting down the hallway.  As I looked at what my eyes could not believe, she said, "I think I colored in five spots.", and then she proceeded to show me what I could already see, but then some also rather unique spots where I would have never thought to look. I'd say there were certainly more than five spots, that's for sure. Rather than ask her the obvious question any parent would be inclined to ask at that moment, "Why would you do such a thing?", I restrained myself knowing that any response she might give would not only be unsatisfactory, but also benign because I already knew she didn't know why she would do such a thing. Instead, I said to her, "You did a naughty thing, didn't you?  You disobeyed your Daddy."  She looked up at me with those big brown, round eyes, with her moist and plump lower lip quivering, and shook her head in the affirmative. She proceeded to cry silently with big "alligator tears" streaming down her cheeks, while she then faced the consequences of her wrongdoing.

Later, after the "dust had settled" and I helped her while she cleaned up her mess (some of it unclean-able), we went outside to have her sit in my lap while we talked through what had just happened.  I asked her what I refrained from asking earlier, "Why did you color on the walls?" Of course, every parent knows the answer to that question before it's ever asked, "Because." I wasn't going to continue the circular conversation by responding, "Because why?", so I then explained to her why I thought she did what she did, which in simple terms was to get my attention one way or the other, even if it meant doing something bad or wrong. What's fascinating to me is that she couldn't wait to tell me about her trespass. She knew I'd see it sooner rather than later, so she might as well bring it to my attention immediately.  She then said to me, "I'm sorry, Daddy.", and "I love you."  Without hesitation I said, "I forgive you, and I love you too, Sweetheart."

Hard to believe that sweet little girl, pictured above just a few hours earlier, could do such a thing.  But, then again, it isn't really. Poppy's just like me, and just like all of us I suppose. The things we'll do to get love, affection and attention.

Still not feeling well,

Tom