I've never really thought that my daughter was given to melodrama, but last night we had the following conversation after I put her to bed, late, and after I had read her three, long stories.
GC: Pappa, nothing in my life is going right!Me: [actually a little alarmed to hear a 4 year old say that] Why do you say that, Peanut?
GC: Because I never get to have 4 stories!
Oh, the humanity!
Posted by Random Penseur at May 4, 2005 12:22 PMMy niece has mastered the heaving sigh and dramatic declaration. Last time it was a "I don't know if I'll ever get over this!"..."this" being that I wasn't making her little brother share his new birthday present with her ten minutes after he opened it.
So, did GC get the fourth story?
Posted by: nic at May 4, 2005 05:32 PMHeh. Just wait for the melodramatic "I didn't ASK to be born!"
Ooh, I just came up with an answer: "Yes, you did. You just don't remember things from when you were that young."
Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 4, 2005 10:52 PMPlease tell me she did the broken wrist over the forehead thing. *giggles*
My favorite story is when my eldest (now 17) was just a wee lad -- around the same age -- and he was getting weary of the younger brother following him around doing everything he did. He said: "Ryan's getting on my nervous."
To this day, when we're annoyed we say, "___ is on my nervous."
Posted by: Margi at May 5, 2005 01:10 AMShe's so cute. She also needs to pace herself-at this point, the college years alone are going to be worthy of meoldrama and theatrics!
Posted by: Helen at May 5, 2005 02:18 AMOh, the humanity indeed. How *could* you deprive her of what is rightfully hers? A fourth story. Is that so much to ask??
As for the melodrama, she needs to learn that the definition of the words 'judicious use' goes hand in hand with the melodrama learning curve. Otherwise, it loses its impact rather quickly. Get right on that, ok? :-)
Posted by: Jennifer at May 6, 2005 10:54 AMWonderful! Absolutely wonderful! :) Will she grow up to be an actress, do you think?
Posted by: Hannah at May 7, 2005 01:47 PMOh, can I relate to this bedtime ritual of being begged, plead to, promised the moon, and cajoled into more stories, only to have my "sorry..." met with total melodrama on any given night.
My work around is reading a chapter in a book, like Alice in Wonderland, that will hold his imagination for that night. I was truly surprised to discover he not only follows the story line from night to night but he remembers all the characters and all the major story points.