7 Quick Takes Friday, #73

1. I should warn you that this is The Week Of The Swimming Lessons. (Next week, too!)  I'm so proud of Mia's willingness to blow bubbles in the water and float and jump and listen to the teacher's instructions.

 

It doesn't hurt that her teacher is fantastic -- really, she's so enthusiastic and lovingly supportive that I couldn't imagine a more comfortable environment in which to learn swimming.

She only teaches two or three kids at a time, so I know her eyes are always on my child, but at the same time she's giving lots of one-on-one instruction. 

Apparently though, it wouldn't matter if her eyes were off of Mia for the entire lesson -- I've got my camera aimed out the window the entire time, snapping fifty shots per half-hour session.  It's like I've never seen my child in the pool before! 

2.  I've been so focused on Mia's excellent progress in the pool, that sweet Lauren's been nearly unphotographed all week.  (Which I tried to justify with words on Tuesday.)  I had to make it better, and snapped a few shots of her to provide some balance in my mind. 

This house belongs to three little boys, and she loved playing with their cars.  Really: she loved the yellow car so much that she's kissing it in this picture.  Such a little lover she is.  It makes me happy to know that those rough-and-tumble cars are being cuddled and smooched after enduring years of rowdy boy-play.  The car may not ever get another kiss in its lifetime, but will know it was loved by a pink little girl!

3. This is what swim lessons coupled in the same week with vacation bible school will do to a person:

4. I found Lauren dancing at my computer the other day, banging on the keys.  Yahoo Search was not amused:

5. I stopped by the office of my sweet friend, Jill, for a quick chat this week, and came away with a new book to read.  Have you heard of it?

So far, it's WONDERFUL!  I was drawn in by the first couple of pages, and now I can hardly put it down.  The characters' voices are original and memorable, and the plot is really holding my interest.  I feel like taking a vacation, just so I can read it!

6. Lauren's rebellious little personality is really shining these days.  Thankfully, she's good-natured about it; there's no trace of attitude or hatefulness about it, it's just fun.  She'll blow raspberries with her mouth full of food, shove her hand in her juice cup, and giggle wildly while I reprimand her.  And her latest (adorably) silly response to getting in trouble is to smile her sweetest smile up at me, and ask, "Is dat funny, mama?"

So many times while she's laughing at her naughtiness, I tell her That's Not Funny!  Apparently she's not buying it.

7. Now I need some advice.  If Lauren is attitude-free, Mia is attitude-full.  Something I told her yesterday didn't make her very happy.  I can't even remember what it was -- probably something she wanted to do and I wouldn't let her, so she was getting angry with me.  "You're not a good mama!" she yelled.  Later, on a different subject, she again yelled, "You're NOT MY MAMA anymore!"

I always thought I'd be broken-hearted when I heard something like this from my child, but I was okay.  What I'm wondering though, is how should I respond to those words?  I ended up holding my tongue and just ignoring it -- wanting time to think about the best way to answer her.  But I'm clueless.  What would you say?

Peace out Homies.  Word to your mother.  (Roughly translated, that means 'Have a nice weekend! Stop by Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!')