"Mommy. Please don't tell me what to do. Let me do it my way. I know what I am doing."
It is hard not to respond to her with a comment like "hello, are you 16?" She must have said it every morning this week because she insisted on wearing short sleeve dresses with no long sleeve shirt underneath or sweatshirt.
Clara has had some "older sister" moments. Several times recently, Emma will start to do something after Mommy has said no, or do something that isn't safe, and Clara, with guide her gently and and say "Emma, no, Mommy said no." is adorable.
Bedtime has been particularly rough. Both ladies are overtired and Emma insists on climbing in Clara's bed and hugging her. And tickling her. Mommy has to pull her out and put her in her bed. This lasts about 5 seconds, because she gets up and goes back to Clara's bed or gets on the floor. Somedays, she takes off her pajamas and also prefers to sleep on the floor.
This week, Clara expressed her love to a little boy at school. After walking into Pizza and Play holding hands, she sat down at the table and looked at him and said "I love you." He even said it back. SO CUTE.
Clara got upset one nite about not being included in a group at school that Emma was in. Mommy predicted something like this earlier in the day because Clara would run after the kids and ask to play and they'd run off and she'd sit and sulk. And, of course, they didn't mean anything and have no idea what they are doing at 3.5/4 years old. But, Clara was so sad and Mommy made sure to explain to Emma that if she is in a group, Clara must be included and so should other friends etc.
In good news, after two trips to different doctors and hospitals (Mt Sinai and Montefiore, chauffered by Mommy- woo hoo!!) just today, Clara's ear has, after almost 3!! weeks, stoped draining! A combination of oral antibiotics and ear drops (also antibiotics) seems to have done the trick. Of course, if you have tubes, you should not have to take oral antibiotics, but in this case, there was no choice.
