My mother's hope for me is realized.

I can't tell you how many times growing up I heard my exasperated mother say, "I hope someday you have a daughter that acts just like you!" Well guess what mom... I do.

I will admit I was a bit of a pickle growing up. I know that seems hard to believe but it is true. I remember when I was about five I wanted to go swimming, so much so that I cried and screamed to go swimming. The problem was it was December and there was snow on the ground. So in order to shut me up and prove a point my mother let me put on my swim suit and go outside. There is a picture in our family album of a very chilly 5yr old in a swimsuit, standing in the middle of an empty plastic swimming pool surrounded by snow. I have always been a tad stubborn. I want what I want and don't tell me I can't have it! (At this point you may be feeling sympathy for my husband.) Well last night I realized the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

My youngest is one of the funniest, sweetest little girls you will ever encounter. However, she agonizes over things being perfect. This includes her wardrobe and last night we had a knock down drag out over her wearing a pink shirt to school today. It's a new pink turtleneck she received for Christmas from one of the grandparents along with a matching pair of denim blue jeans. The jeans have pink accents and she has worn them several times. The shirt, however still has the tag attached. Last night we were laying out clothes for the morning and I pulled out this outfit and said, "Oh! You haven't even worn this yet. Let's wear it tomorrow." Instantly, the nose wrinkled and she cocked her head to the side and said, "I don't wear pink." I was dumbfounded because this child's entire existence has revolved around this color! Her room is even painted pink per her request! But none of that matters now. She informed me she liked pink when she was four but not anymore. Hello, she's six now and she was not going to wear the shirt!

At this point I was in a quandary. I remember being forced to wear stuff I didn't like and how that made me feel. So do I do the same to her? But I think this child is even more picky that I was especially at her young age. She flat refuses to wear any shirt that has buttons on it! What is that about? I have no idea what buttons ever did to her, but we know not to buy her anything that has them. I even begged the grandparents not to buy her clothes for Christmas because I knew this would happen. To make a short story, long I put my foot down, played the "mom" card and informed her she would be wearing the shirt. Grandma paid good money for it and she was going to wear it! She went to bed crying and I went to bed feeling like a tyrant. It was obvious this morning that she had not changed her mind. Every morning I call upstairs, "good morning monkeys!" This morning I was greeted with a cold, "good morning, mother." Ouch. I was able to smooth the waters a little bit with a compromise. She did wear the shirt, (which was adorable) but I suggested she wear her new baby blue Old Navy vest with it. She loved the idea and my title of tyrant was lifted. More importantly, she went off to school with a smile on her face.

I know this is just a sign of things to come and being my child, I know there will many more instances where we do not agree. Part of me hopes this is a phase and she will grow out of it but who am I kidding?