Things I never thought I'd say

I don't consider myself to be an overly indulgent mother. I truly don't think we are completely spoiling Niranjana. But there are a few things that I've said recently that surprised even me.

1. "If you don't stop asking for chocolate, there will be no more M&Ms or fruit snacks in the car. You'll have to eat [Quaker Oats] breakfast cookies."

Context: This whining episode was in the car on the way to school when Niranjana was in her "M&Ms for breakfast phase." And if the choice was M&Ms or nothing, I believe her teachers prefer that she eat M&Ms. They have more nutritional value than the fruit snacks. We now are up to a yogurt tube in the house and fruit snacks in the car. Go dairy!

2. "The next time I bring you a hard-boiled egg in bed, I need to remember to put it in a bowl."

Context: This fall, Niranjana started needed a bedtime snack — usually after she was in bed and while we were reading books. After the crumbling egg in the bedsheets incident, I switched to "yogurt tubes only" for upstairs snacking. Yes, really, we're not spoiling her.

3. "Get that plastic bag off your head. It's not a toy."

Context: I am one of many who have scoffed at the warning printed on plastic bags...until I saw my daughter put the Gymboree bag over her head while trying to be funny.

4. "Take the Wii remote out of your mouth."

Context: This was a one-time incident, thankfully. And I do sanitize the remote controls occasionally. But if you'd asked me four months ago if we would be a Wii family, I would have said no.

5. "Please don't lick my face."

Context: Someone taught Niranjana how to "cow kiss." I think it might have been Ammaji. Yuck.

6. "Pull my finger."

Context: Sigh...yes, Andy has me doing it, too. And I used to be so polite and reserved....most of the time.