Don't Talk About Me

I know somethings I am about to tell are going to be hard to believe after seeing this picture, but trust me they are true!!

Anna Claire got mad at her Daddy the other day and flexed her muscles and growled at him. As serious as she was, it was quiet humorous.

My sweet, bow wearing, pink and polka dot loving, flip flop wearing, Disney Princess caring little girl is an ANIMAL!! She may be the strongest 3 year old I have ever met. She also thinks she is the smartest "big girl" ever. I'll give her this much, she has the smartest "big girl" mouth of any 3 year old that I know. With all of this said, she is still my little girl. I love that little girl more than life itself and it's my job to protect her. I mean, my 3 year old still rides in the buggy at Wal-Mart with her buggy cover. Germs I tell you!! Germs!! LOL!!

Anyway, she rides in the buggies in stores that have them, out shopping she rides in her stroller, but there are some places that don't have buggies and/or do not allow strollers. Some places allow strollers, but it is really not feasible. We are going to a ball game Saturday and it is not feasible to use a stroller. I know she would want to walk anyway, but I cannot walk that long of a way with just holding her hand. I never feel completely safe just holding her hand. What if she got away? What if I squeezed her hand to hard because she was trying to get away? What if her arm got pulled out of socket because she was trying to get away from me? {She HATES to hold hands because after all she's a "big girl".}

She got away from me in the nail salon a few days before her birthday and ran out the door as I was running after her. Thankfully, she stopped at the edge of the fire zone. Yes I was using "the" voice telling her to stop, but she did not care. I'm not sure why she stopped, maybe God stopped her for me. I know I was a very grateful Mommy when I got to her, but that did not stop me from whipping her butt. Did it do any good? I doubt it because nothing seems to work with her.

However, if I would have had a kid "leash" that would not have happened. Well, not to worry because we have one now. I talked to Kerry about it and even mentioned it to my Mom. We all agreed that I needed to get one for Anna Claire. My Mom and I are the people that years ago would have made comments about the kid "leash" to each other, but now that I'm a Mom, I realize until you walk in that Mom's shoes you will never understand the kid "leash". Some children are very laid back and quiet, other children are like mine. Anna Claire is wild and free spirited. She never meets a stranger and as cute as that may be, it is very dangerous.

Anna Claire's new "leash" is a puppy dog backpack. If you see her with it on, don't feel sorry for her because she LOVES it. She wears it around the house and wants me to hold my end so she can pull me. I promise I will not be like the lady on the news that was dragging her child around. I got it for safety.

I am doing something that I feel will keep my child safe. I just have to pray that when we are out in public no one says anything to Kerry about it. I have been trained in the proper wording because a wise friend once said "at least I know she will be going home with me tonight!" She could not be more right.

I cannot promise that Kerry will respond the same way. :0