Overcoming Hatred

I hate Halloween.  Got it from my mom.  I hate it so much that it doesn't count as a holiday in my book.  I didn't realize how much it would affect Emma until she came home from her friend's house and wondered where our Halloween decorations were and asked what she was going to be for Halloween.  Seriously?  I was tempted to tell her how lame of a holiday it really was.  But, I refrained.  Instead, I told her that we haven't put Halloween decorations up yet (and aren't planning on it), but we'll do it sometime soon (because you'll also forget all about it soon).  I then convinced her that she can be Rapunzel for Halloween (since she already had the dress).  She'd forget about Halloween soon enough.

Wrong.

We were at the library when Emma brought me a book about Halloween. I read it to her and she was fascinated.  "What's a jack-o-lantern?"  "Look, other kids dress up too!"  "Hey mom, what's that white thing with the frowny face?"

I was then forced to realize that Emma has yet one more thing in common with Ammon: Ammon likes Halloween.

Fine.

When we got home from the library, we pulled out our construction paper, and Emma helped me glue together reminders of what I don't like about Halloween.  We put these reminders all over the house.

Emma loved it.

Next up?  Paying too much for a vegetable that will not be eaten just so we can enjoy another ridiculous tradition for the worst holiday ever.  BUT, it's super cute to see Emma so happy and excited about something, so I'll put my Halloween issues aside to appease my two Halloween monsters.

Like mother, like daughter

So I just blogged about how I have to learn things the hard way. Emma (even though she doesn't really learn from her mistakes) also has to do everything the hard way.

2 months ago, she shoved 2 little hair clips for her little princess doll in her nose. Yes, 2 in one nostril. We got the first one out at home using tweezers. We couldn't reach the second. She went to urgent care. After several attempts at tweezers and other medical equipment, the final solution was to have Ammon plug the open nostril and blow into her mouth. Luckily, it came out (with a lot of blood). She was completely traumatized. For weeks, we went over and over how we don't put things into our nose, mouth, or ears.

Tonight, while Ammon was at Priesthood session, we were video-playing with Gramma. Emma was playing with similar doll toys (which say 3+ on the box). I saw her put something in her mouth out of the corner of my eye. I told her not to put toys in her mouth. She looks at me, gags, then starts crying and points in her mouth. SERIOUSLY, CHILD?

Calmly (which is so unlike me), I try the heimlich (she's breathing fine, so that doesn't work), I try sticking my finger down her throat to gag her several times to induce vomiting. Nothing works. So, I just gave her some water and held her while she whines as it goes down. We talk about how we don't put anything in our mouths. She's embarrassed and sorry. Lesson learned, right?

NOPE! 3 minutes later, she walks up to me and spits the exact same type of toy out on my lap (the picture is a toy similar to the one in her stomach...the nickel is for size reference).

THAT'S IT! All 3+ toys are going in the trash! My 3-year-old is only allowed to have 1+ toys from now on!

There's a reason the Lord hasn't trusted me with 2 yet...lesson learned!