We may need another tissue

I've mentioned before that I don't like the term "terrible twos." I don't find my child or the age to be terrible.

I prefer the term Intwopendence.

We are definitely in that. In the last month or so there has been a real change in Zoe.

She is starting to understand how she feels and her likes and dislikes. She has also inherited my need for routine and rules.

She likes to know what's going to happen each day. She also has rules about what shoes she'll wear, how to eat mashed potatoes, how to play tea and what colors we should color with.

It is expected we know and follow her rules.

Fortunately she's also growing her vocabulary as she's growing her list of rules. The learning curve for N and me isn't too bad.

The one thing that has happened the last month is how sensitive she is. If we're watching a cartoon and something sad happens (like Pooh can't get any honey or Tigger loses his shadow) we get tears. Massive amounts of tears.

Plus a pouty lip, puppy-dog eyes and slumped shoulders.

We also get this if it's time to come inside, time to change her diaper, time to get in the bath, time to get out of the bath, etc.

In the last week she's been able to convey her feelings to me. No less than 10 times this week I've heard,

"I'm sad Mom. Mom I'm sad."

I can't help but feel bad for her. Her little world has been crushed and she confides in me how she's feeling.

It's part preparing me for puberty.

The best part is that it's also setting the foundation for our relationship. I only hope over the course of my life she can always feel comfortable saying, "I'm sad Mom."

I also hope that I can always be the mom who can comfort her, tell her it's going to be okay and pray with her.

Or try to distract her with a cookie and bubbles like I do now.