Day 3 - The Sneak

Little A is a thief and a sneak.

Yes, my dearest, darling, cute-as-a-bug 4 year old is TROUBLE.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a purse party. I got Big and Little A each their own purses. Little A's is a small red Chanel purse with two big white C's kind of interconnected on the front of it. She hated it at first (she really wanted the pink Kate Spade purse but I refuse to spend $45 on a purse for a 4 year old) and flipped a fit when she saw it. Then she calmed down, warmed up to it and proceeded to sling it over her shoulder and take it everywhere with her. Darn cute.

SO last week, she's carrying her purse around and sets it down in the middle of the floor. I go to get it and put it somewhere less "trip-able" and she says in a panicky voice, "DON'T LOOK IN MY PURSE!"

Uh...well, I wasn't going to ...BUT NOW I AM!!!

"Why?" I say. "Because," she says. This dialogue continued about three more times before I finally just opened the purse and started pulling out stuff. Pulling out stuff that wasn't ours! NOthing major...a wooden coaster, a patchwork looking placemat type thing, a small plastic batman figurine.

She stole it from daycare. THis was her hidden stash. I was mad, as any mother should be, but I was kind of laughing inside. I'll admit it. I mean...if she wants to commit to a life of crime, I'm going to have to teach her about what's valuable right???

I KID!

Anyway, I had a stern talk to her about it, we called Steph and the next day I made her repeat word for word, "I'm very sorry I stole these things from you yesterday. It was wrong and I will never do it again. I am very sorry." Steph did her job and remained as stern as she could while trying to suppress a smile, and so far Little A has not stolen any additional items.

Steph did tell me that later, Little A pulled another figurine out of her purse that I missed and said, "I stole this too. Here you go." So I guess SOMETHING I said worked, right?

Secondly, Little A loves gum. She puts a piece of gum in most mornings and when we get to Stephs, I tell her to spit it out. This morning was no different. As she's walking towards the garbage, she sort of stops to look at something, all the time glancing at me. I say, "Little A - gum in the garbage." SHe meanders a bit more and I say it again. Steph then tells me that yesterday my child tried to hide her gum in her cheek yesterday. Wouldn't chew in front of Steph but wouldn't open her mouth either.

I made her open her mouth today. There was no gum.

Little thief and a sneak. I'm calling her trouble from now on.