Another Night of Questions

While Addie was in her room playing with her dolls, Vince and I discussed questions again. I said “IF she wants to do it, let’s set a timer for one hour so we don’t keep saying . . last question . . a dozen times.” He agreed. Do you know how long one hour . . 60 minutes . . is when questions are being rapidly fired at you? It’s really fun because Addie opens up way more than she does when we’re just chatting, especially with Vince. He’ll ask a question and I know it’s going to lead to her saying something I’m going to have to smooth over with him but I can’t intervene in the questioning but I think we may find a different game to play.

Addie and Vince get along better than they once did but I still hope for improvement. Vince isn’t mean but he can be gruff and sound scary and he thinks he should tell someone once to do something and never have to say it again. Like . . “Addie, when you were 4, I told you to pick up your plate from the table! Don’t make me tell you again!” where I would say “Oops . . did you forget to pick up your plate?”

If she left a light on, Vince would say “I’ve told you over and over to turn lights out!” I would say “Dang it . . someone went in your room, turned your light on and left it on. Who did that?” Either way, she would get up and go turn it off but she’d give Vince a snarl and she’d giggle if I was the one who told her.

It probably makes a difference when the child is living in your home full time but I cut her some slack because even though she is here often, it’s still two sets of rules to remember. On the other hand, the things we’re asking her to do here, she should be doing at home also.

Some of the questions Vince asks her are just to aggravate her. She’s learning that there are trap questions and she has her dad’s ability to talk in circles and never actually provide an answer.

Yesterday she and Vince were a little out of sorts with each other. They had this exchange . .

Vince: When Granny and I are old, are you going to take care of both of us or just Granny?
Addie . . without blinking an eye: Just Granny!
Vince: What about me?
Addie: You’re going to have to figure that one out!

I was trying so hard not to laugh . . mainly because Addie didn’t think twice about saying it to him and it was matter of fact . . don’t even think she was going to back down . . but secondly, because Vince and I are probably going to need help way before Addie is old enough to help us! He should be asking Chad and Nicole that question.

I know I’ve told this before but Addie was probably 4 or 5 and I had always gone to their house by myself but this time, Vince went and it was a chaotic trip. We had our dogs and they had their Speck. Vince was pretty much ready to go home shortly after we got there. Vince was sitting in the family room, which is open to the dining room. I had gone into the laundry room which is just past the dining room. Addie was standing in the laundry room and she said quietly to me “Why did you have to bring HIM??” Vince said “I can hear you!” Addie said “I’m just asking her why she had to bring YOU!”

Some things I guess will never change.