We have entered a new phase with Spark Plug. This phase requires strategic thinking and physical strength. It is a chore and a battle to get Spark Plug dressed anymore.
Lately Spark Plug has been overly obsessed with her nighties. Her pink one with the Disney Princesses in their Paris Hilton poses, her blue one with Dora and Boots smiling awkwardly, and her mint green nightie with Tinkerbell glancing with flirty eyes. It is the flirty eyes that Spark Plug uses to get what she wants, especially from Hubby. She bats her eyelashes and delivers a perfect toothless smile. I should get her an agent.
She wants to be in these nighties everyday, all day. And to try and get her dressed takes as long as it did to get all three Wee Ladies decked out in their winter gear this morning. EveiG was almost late for school.
I get out her clothes and tell her to come and get dressed. She throws a conniption and painfully shouts, "NO!" at the top of her lungs, like I am ripping her toe off or something. Or taking her new FurReal cat Rosie complete with carrying case away from her.
I grab her after chasing her through every room and pin her down on the bed. She is half laughing and half crying. She wants to make it a game, and really for the record it is. She tries her hardest to win the battle of the nightie. I sit on top of her while trying to get her shirt on. She kicks and squirms and wiggles the entire time looking for a way to escape my grip. I place a forearm across her stomach and hold her wrists with my hand as I attempt the pants. Still writhing about she turns onto her tummy and I pull her pants on. Next comes the sweater. I wrap my legs around her to hold her still as I pull one arm through the sleeves at a time. I have even put her in a Nelson, like a cop would do.
Obviously this is gentle and we for the most part giggle our way through this grappling match. I can't get too upset when this is her way of playing. I always come out the winner, even if I have lost the grapple and then try Strategy B, which is to take away Rosie or her princess shoes. I have also been known to pull out Strategy C too. That is where I throw down her clothes and then say good-bye, all while walking myself to the door to get my coat on. Then she freaks out and we get her dressed without incident.
Our day moves on and we go where we need to. We end up accomplishing what we set out to do. I have just run my errands and burned many calories from my grappling match and Spark Plug comes back though the front door and strips down to her underwear. She then marches up to her room and pulls out her Princess nightie and pulls it over her head. She prances back in forth in front of me like a dressage horse and looks at me with her flirty eyes and a solid expression of satisfaction.
She thinks she has won. Maybe she has.
I am still the grappling master.
All's I'm sayin's all.
Labels: Battle, Chores, Spark Plug
