Pay Attention to Me!

“Mom!! Mom!! Pay attention to me!”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that statement in the last two weeks, I could retire before I turn 41! Oh the joys of having a sixteen year old daughter who actually likes her mom. My Mini-Me demands more attention now than she needed as a toddler. I’m not complaining. I love the fact that she wants to spend time with me. I cherish every moment, because I know that it’s only a matter of time until she’ll take off to make her own way in the world. Right now, that means college after she graduates. She used to tell me she wanted to go to W&J so she could still live at home. Then she decided that she simply had to go to Penn State. A lifelong Nittany Lions fan, I couldn’t be prouder. Of course, she’s got two more years of high school, and plans can change.

My daughter happens to be a self-declared champion sleeper. If someone would pay this girl to nap, I could have retired at 35! She can sleep for hours, wake up long enough to tell me that it’s nap time, and then snooze another 3-6 hours away with ease. She’s got pillow shams that say Nap Queen, and they couldn’t be more accurate. The downside to all that napping is the energy bursts. “Mom!!! I have energy!” This proclamation is generally followed by dancing around the room. The dancing is often partnered with singing, sometimes storytelling, and always results in me begging her to just be still! I’m jealous of her energy. I’m just too old to match it.

A couple of days ago, she bounced over to the corner of the living room where I was staring at a half-finished blog post and demanded that I pay attention to her. She asked what I was doing, and I told her I was writing a story. I wasn’t yet ready to launch my blog, and I certainly wasn’t ready for the four million questions she’d have if I told her what new adventure I was about to begin. Needless to say, I closed the laptop and took my place on the couch next to her. Netflix has been invaluable during this stay-at-home order. We binged all five seasons of Fuller House, which led her to want to watch the “eight years of home videos that seem like a tv show,” or the original Full House. They’re short episodes that make us laugh. My daughter is quite dramatic, and sometimes she requires something a little more interesting. To that end, we’re also in the midst of watching Hart of Dixie. There are four seasons on Netflix, and we’re only on season two. Remember I said I can’t match her energy? I’m so thankful that she’s content to curl up on the couch with my blanket and my sloth, Mikey, when she’s in need of attention. As long as I don’t move from the couch, she’s happy.

When I launched this blog yesterday, I sent her the link. She was in her room working diligently on her child development project. Side note: I am extremely thankful that my children are old enough to handle this online learning on their own. I would not make a good teacher. I don’t have the patience, or the energy. I genuinely feel for those who are home with young children and are now tasked with being mom and teacher. God bless them. But I digress, like my sister often does. Upon opening her text message and seeing my “story,” Mini-Me came dancing out of her room insisting that I write about her so she could be famous. I told her only five people had even seen this blog. She said that was plenty.

So here you go, kiddo. A whole post, all about you! Don’t worry, I’m certain there will be many more to come. I love you, Lil Pup!