She Wanted a Snack

My firstborn has always patiently waited for me to help him with things. For example, when he is in bed and is awake, he calls and calls rather than get out of bed to find us. (One time quite recently was so sad! The monitor was not turned on, so we didn't realize we were listening to dead air. Meanwhile John was calling and calling, finally became very scared, and was crying. He was quite panicked by the time we heard him and he never simply got out of bed, walked through the open door, and came to get us!) Of course, now at three-and-a-half John is starting to do things for himself, but his first tendency is always to ask a parent to help. I had heard of other children who take matters into their own hands but didn't have experience with that until Mary.

Today I was sweeping in the dining room while the children were right in the next room, through an open door, in the kitchen. I heard some dragging sounds, then Mary saying, "Yum, yum!" obviously with a stuffed mouth. I came to investigate. She had dragged the heavy Learning Tower to the other counter, found the bananas, managed to peel one herself, and was eating it very happily.