Sweet Life with Mary

"Pick me up at 4 o'clock. Don't do anything before you pick me up. And bring me a present...."

Lately, this has been Mary's litany every weekday morning before I get her to daycare. It would have been fine if she would only repeat it 2 or 3 times in the course of that morning. By the time I have left her at daycare, I would have heard these 3 sentences 10-20 times!!! And it's not just in the mornings. As soon as I get her in the car after I DO pick her up at 4 AND had done nothing before pick her up AND brought a present, it starts all over again. "Remember what you are going to do tomorrow, Mommy - pick me at 4....." And on and on through the course of the evening right to bedtime. It gets tedious at times and when my patience wears thin, in frustration and desperation, I reply back with, "Do you think Mom is stupid? Do you have to remind me 100 times a day?" "No, but I don't want you to forget..." "How can I forget you?"--- from here, we are both engaged, its turned to a full-blown tantrum for her and the blood pressure has risen a few notches for me. Sometimes, Jack would intervene (which I always welcome) or I would distract her by getting her to take her pre-bedtime shower. Usually, the hot shower will calm her down. I know that when she gets in a disagreeable mood and just keep whining and whining, she is T-I-R-E-D (I have to spell this out- when she hears me say, she is tired--- "I'M----NOT----TIRED!!!!" would be her reply, adding sparks to the fire). I struggle to stay calm myself but I am also tired by the end of the day, from my full-time job. So, I really do welcome Jack's intervention at moments like this.