Reality Check

I know that Skylar looks like an angel (at least we think so) but what most don't see is her other side.

We were scheduled to get her flu shot booster at 1pm on Wed...this is usually around naptime so I was trying to keep Skylar awake because I knew it would go better if I didn't wake her. Off to the mall playground we went (it was 2 degrees outside) and I figured we would grab lunch in the food court and it would be time to go to the doctor's office. We had fun at the playground....until she got interested in escaping so then we were off to find lunch. Long story short....Midway Mall is a tad sad these days--there is nothing there and the only thing we could find for her to eat was Auntie Annes pretzels. She thought it was great fun to sit on the table in the middle of the mall where she could check everyone out and hold her own pretzel. We were chatting, having a good time until Sky decided that she NEEDED to hold all three pretzels. I am sure you are aware that all toddlers like to put the entire contents of their fist in their mouth and then proceed to choke so obviously I didn't give them to her. In fact I put them away so the temptation was gone. Well that wasn't good enough. Like a light switch went off, Skylar noticed my cup of coffee behind her at a safe distance. She seriously looked me in the eye, leaned back and while maintaining eye contact all the while---she pushed my coffee off the table. In the middle of the mall. I was stunned. This was an obvious display of defiance...and had we been home--a swift smack on the bottom and to the corner she would go HOWEVER...we are at the mall. I can't beat her because I would go to jail. And there are no corners (and besides how stupid would I look!). And in the meantime, my child is still sitting on the table....my coffee is quickly spreading down the aisle...and I am still in shock. At that moment, Sky throws the rest of the pretzels off the other side of the table.

Needless to say we swiftly threw everything away, cleaned up the mess (bless the pretzel lady's heart--she called housekeeping), and left. She realized then how mad I was since I wasn't speaking anymore (for fear of what I would say)....fell asleep in the car because it is literally impossible to stay angry at a sleeping child, was an angel at the doctor and slept for 2 hours afterwards. Smart kid because had she continued down this devious path---I think I would have lost it.

I officially have a toddler. A terrible-twos toddler. She is only 16 months old! I am so screwed!