Madeleine's Thoughts

After Madeleine's dismissal of my Adam and Eve lesson last night, which many of you probably saw on facebook (and in case you missed it, here it is):,

ME: Madeleine, it's time to brush your teeth.
MADELEINE: (scampering off in the opposite direction of the bathroom)
ME: Madeleine. You need to listen. NOW.
MADELEINE: (ignoring me and running away)
ME: Madeleine! Do you want to be like Adam and Eve in the Garden when they didn't listen to God?? GOD IS WATCHING YOU!
MADELEINE: (stomping off to the bathroom) No, God! DON'T watch me. Amen.


she appeared to be in a much more conciliatory and loving mood towards everyone this evening.  Despite the fact that she chose ONCE AGAIN not to listen, grabbing Auntie Caitlyn's tablet off of the counter after I had taken it away for the evening and commanded her to brush her teeth, and had consequently lost all use of the tablet for the weekend, Madeleine seemed to take a "Hakuna Matata" approach to life as I put her to bed.

MADELEINE: Mommy?  I love you I love you I love you!
ME: I love you too!
MADELEINE: Oh!  And I forgot about Auntie Shannon and Auntie Caitlyn and Yiayia.  And Clara!
ME: What about Daddy?
MADELEINE: Oh, yes!  I love Daddy, AND pumpkins!
ME: That's great.
MADELEINE: I love you and Julia and Daddy, and I love Nana and Gramps, and I love YOUR mommy, and I love your sisters, and I love DADDY'S sisters...
ME: Wait a minute.  Who are Daddy's sisters?
MADELEINE: Umm...
ME: Does Daddy have sisters?
MADELEINE: (brightly) Yes!
ME: Daddy has two BROTHERS.  Uncle Mike and Uncle Dave.
MADELEINE: And is Grandpa Daddy's brother?

Oh boy.  She's way off here.  No, hon, my deceased father is not your own father's brother.  That would mean I married my uncle.

Once we cleared that all up, Madeleine decided to start over again.

MADELEINE: I love you, and Julia, and Daddy, and I love Daddy's mom and dad, and I love YOUR mom, and YOUR sisters, and I love Daddy's brothers, and I love God, and Jesus, and the ANGELS, and I just love EVERYONE but I can't say ALL their names!
ME: That is so sweet of you, honey.
MADELEINE: And Clara.  I love Clara.  I love little BOO-BOO head.

Apparently Madeleine has picked up on one of Auntie Shannon's many pet names for her...uh...pet.  

MADELEINE: Boo-boo head is so CUTE.  She's such a CUTE little Boo-boo head.  But Mommy?  Why does Boo-boo head love Daddy so much?
ME: Well, Daddy is really good with dogs.  He really knows how to take care of dogs.
MADELEINE: And is Daddy good with CATS?
ME: No, because Daddy is allergic to cats, so he doesn't really go near them.
MADELEINE: Well, I'm good with cats, because cats don't BITE me like CLARA does.  I mean...like BOO-BOO HEAD does.

I realized at this point that there was no way Madeleine was going to fall asleep so long as I was in her room, so I made my exit, promising I would come back to check on her.

MADELEINE: And when you come back to check on me, I'm gonna be CONKED OUT.

True to her word, Madeleine was out like a light when I peeked in on her about ten minutes later, but then I made the fatal parenting mistake of thinking the sleeping child just looks SO DARN CUTE and so desperately in need of a couple of big ol' kisses planted on her cheeks that I inadvertently stirred her from what was a very light sleep.  Madeleine then launched back into our discussion of loving people as if it had never been interrupted, opting to elaborate upon what she loves about Nana.

MADELEINE: Nana's SWEET.  And Nana can be SILLY.  And Nana loves people that I don't know.  And Nana loves JULIA.  And Nana loves her FRIENDS.  And...I forgot the last thing that I love about Nana.  (long silence, which I hopefully interpreted for nodding off) Uh...maybe it's that Nana has a HEART.  

A few moments later, she was breathing deeply and had returned to her slumber.  I hope the rest of you fall asleep tonight in the knowledge that Madeleine loves you all.  Whether you were specifically named or lay in the all-inclusive blanket of "EVERYONE but I can't say all the names," know that you are near and dear to Madeleine's own heart.