Timing is Everything

Sometimes this traveling circus gives the impression that it's organized and choreographed.

But other times the truth becomes apparent.

It all depends on the moment you happen to catch us in action.

I'm focusing efforts on guiding Mila, the Powerhouse of Personality, towards the best version of her. That means I want her to be every bit as wild and crazy as her heart says she should be, but in a way that will be constructive. And safe. So, yes, be enthusiastic and nutty, but time it well.

Y'know, maybe don't jump up and down and scream while in a shopping cart? We should definitely do that when we've got something important to say, but it's not really worth risking injury to raise a ruckus just because we're in Target. Save it for a real special occasion or something. Buying granola bars and yogurt isn't it.

Thus, during our most recent trek for groceries, I uttered the words, "Please sit down nicely" approximately 234652345324204568409 times. And she did! Mila understood the directions and sat down nicely. Sure, she bounced right back up over and over again, but the point is she tried.

She really, really tried.

That's enough sometimes. It takes time to figure out how to turn trying into succeeding, but the only way to succeed is to start by trying. And so, I thought we would end our errand with a treat. An offer of candy or nail polish was met with "NAIL POLISH!!!!!!!!!" and glee.

But then she changed her mind. Not the sparkly blue nail polish. Something from over there.

But then the something over there wasn't quite right and the perfect Belle dress wasn't her size and the toys were overwhelming and there wasn't a doll that was perfect and ... it all fell apart. She who had tried was suddenly she who was flailing. There was screaming and crying and straight up fit throwing happening.

So I called off the reward. You kind of have to make it out the door without losing your mind if you want to be rewarded for not losing your mind, so forget it. There will be no toys, no Belle dress, no nail polish, no candy, no doll, nothing. NOTHING. 

Sorry, kid.

As we stood at the checkout, Mila in full meltdown mode, I could feel the eyes. The same eyes would have been amazed by the perfectly orchestrated circus just minutes before, but at that point, it was more of a sloppy sideshow turned train wreck. 

It all depends on when you see the circus.