Growing Up

I've been meaning to write about Taylor lately because, well, she is growing up. Tommy and I have both commented in the past month about how much her behavior has improved. Hallelujah! As you have probably deduced from past blog posts, Taylor is a high-energy and high-spirited child. She is very smart and knows how to manipulate people and situations. Tommy and I have struggled immensely in trying to figure out how to channel her energy while providing hard boundaries. I cannot tell you how many nights we have had major catfights with her at bedtime, which only further exhausted us after her frequent tantrums and drama scenes during the day.

Fortunately, the catfights have become fewer and fewer in number. We still have our tense moments throughout the day, but that is to be expected with the current state of affairs at the "Bligh Zoo." Taylor loves to feel grown up, so I have allowed her to feel empowered lately by letting her do big-kid things: cut a cantaloupe with a real knife (don't worry, I was within reach if need be), put her own laundry away, pick out her and Matty's outfits for the day, stay up after bedtime and read books with a reading light.

I have also started giving Taylor an allowance. She gets $4 a week (she'll get a raise when she turns five) as long as she behaves and does some chores. If she misbehaves, then I subtract from her allowance. I have been doing this since April, and Taylor has only gotten her full allowance twice, but hey, it's a start. I figure it is time that Taylor starts buying some of her own things too. She needs to learn the value of money, as she was starting to expect me to buy her things every time we are out running errands. Last week, we were at the zoo, and she wanted a huge rainbow lollipop. It was $3.50, so I told her that if she really wanted it, she'd have to use her own money to buy it. Sure enough, she did. She licked it for a couple of days and then got over it (it is now rotting away in our compost bin). As we counted her 11 dollar bills and 79 cents from her wallet tonight, she admitted to me that the lollipop was not worth the money. I love the thought she is starting to put into her decisions. Maybe our tough love, consequences, boundaries, tears, laughter and rewards are starting to pay off?

This summer, Taylor is in summer camp a few days every week. She also started soccer on Friday, and her dance recital is next weekend. She keeps me busy, but she is thriving and loves all the activity. She also loves to play by herself, and her imagination is adorable. Just today, she had me tie her long Rapunzel braid (this is a six foot long braid that I made for her birthday party) into her ponytail so that she could prance around the house pretending she is Rapunzel. She also informed me at bedtime that she has two babies in her belly that are going to be born at the pretend hospital tomorrow. We also talked about the homeless woman we gave crackers to today, when she can start highlighting her hair to be blonde like mine (ha!), how I am going to go to heaven before her, and how she is so sad that she does not have a baby sister. Her little mind is all over the place. She was also so excited for Father's Day and made special placemats for everyone to use at dinner.

Thank you, God, for this precious little girl in my life.

Taylor, age 4

Dance recital dress rehearsal

Taylor wearing her Rapunzel braid