Observations by Reina

At one week shy of turning 4, Reina is full of observations, musings and let's face it, criticisms. Girl has a lot of opinions and is at that delightful age where she's not afraid to share them.  Although, I am starting to wonder if 'that delightful age' will last her whole life.  Last weekend we were at their indoor soccer games and Reina, watching one of the other soccer parents, a big, bearded, tattooed motorcycle guy, loudly said "He looks like he's wearing a girl's shirt."  To her credit, it was one of those stylized roses/large cross/swirly designs kinda number but as I tried to hush her and remind her that we didn't want to hurt anyone feelings, she loudly countered with "But MOM - it does look like a ghel's shirt!"  Girl = ghel (said in a very Cary Grant/Katherine Hepburn sort of accent - still). To her credit, it was. Kind of girly.

Yesterday, she and I made a quick stop at Walgreen's.  Our cashier had a lip piercing.  This time Reina waited until we were walking out the door to ask why "her has a black thing on her mouth?"  Try explaining the freedom of expression and laws that allow people over 18 to pierce things - to an almost 4-yr old. I didn't even try.  I just said "some people like stuff that like that - it's like an earring - for your mouth." 

I've documented previous clothing battles on this blog recently but this week, I offered her a few choices as to avoid the 30-minute howl fests that occur when the wrong pair of pants are presented.  She wanted to wear a dress on Thursday, which was a bit chilly, so I showed her a couple of different options that she could choose from.  She turned down a lovely brown corduroy prairie-style dress because it "looks like the color of poop."  Said without sassiness, it was simply an observation and she started to add "and everybody will laugh at me" but I cut her off before we could go down that path again. 

Reina is battling a little bug this weekend, she's been running a fever and is slightly droopy but not noticeably ill.  We kept her home most of the weekend to keep her from infecting everyone else.  So she's had a lot of playtime in her room and has rediscovered her dress-up drawer.  She piled on several princess dresses yesterday and announced that she was The Queen.  She started referring to herself in the third person "The Queen would like a drink of water."  While I was putting away The Queen's laundry, Reina informed me that The Queen likes it when people do stuff for her and if they are good, she will give them a present.  I interrupted to say "how nice of the Queen" and Reina continued on with, "The Queen will give you a present on your birthday."  So the monarch thanks you for your service and here's a present.... but you have to wait for your birthday.  How grand.