Reality Is Close

I feel like we live a pretty charmed life and our girls are pretty (I thought) sheltered. Until recently. I'm discovering that reality is right there, and Payton is getting old enough, and observant enough, to see what's there. Yesterday she asked one of her friends where his daddy is. What she doesn't know (I don't think) is that this little boys parents broke up long ago, and he and his mother live with her parents. This little man is one of the most loved children I know, but his father is not in the picture much and it's probably better this way. Today she asked me why another friends daddy lives with her other friends mommy, and if that friend has a mommy. Seriously, where does she get this stuff? All of this while walking through Costco! I didn't really know what to say. Heck the whole thing took me a few days to digest! How do I explain divorce and separation to a 4 year old, why do I have to? I tried to lightly tell her that D's daddy and L's mommy like each other, that they're good friends and leave it at that. And that of course D has a mommy. Luckily she was fine with that explanation and went into the next conversation about who to invite to her birthday party in 6 months. Eeekk! And these are the little things. Upcoming I know that it's going to get much tougher. Thank goodness I had some great teachers in dealing with the tough stuff!

Payton's Wish List

Payton has had her Santa wish list made and posted for weeks now, it was up before Halloween. I admit, I kind of encouraged her to make it, and my reason was two-fold. First of all, I hoped that by writing it down she would stop telling me how much she wants a unicorn pillow pet. Secondly, I hope that by putting it in writing, she might stick to the things that are on the list so that I can buy these things now and not have a totally different list come the week before Christmas, I pray this works. So, the list goes like this: pillow pet - #1 priority, game - she probably doesn't know what this is, but I really want to get her the Leapster game to help her practice writing and fine motor skills so I've taken her to the store and encouraged her to ask Santa for one, bike - because all the other kids on the street have them and we fight for them, reindeer with a nose that lights up that she saw 2 months ago at Costco that is LONG gone and unfortunately her Santa didn't get one, kitty - no idea why she thinks she needs another one, ball - again, we certainly don't need more balls in the house, and jewelry box which I think is actually for Grandma Jackie because Payton thinks she needs one in her bathroom - I'm still very unclear on this request. The other bonus to having a list made is that we can kind-of-sort-of use it to remind her that she needs to be good so that Santa will come. Not sure how well that parts reall working out, but it's a thought.