Catch!

I detest talking on the phone but I adore phone conversations that go like this:

3yoPN (robot name for Three-Year-Old Pumpkin Niece): "You gonna come ovah and play wid me now??”

Me: “Oh, honey, I wish that I could but it takes me a long time to get there. Remember how I live far away?”

3yoPN, either in sheer denial or with alarming, sudden hearing loss: “You gonna come now?”

Me: “I can’t. I’ve got to stay here for now and take care of Baxter. Remember, Baxter, my cat?”

3yoPN, suddenly turning into a miniature mother hen: “Don’t worry. You can bring your titty tat with.”

Me, stifling myself and secretly hoping she will never be able to pronounce her K’s: “Oh, wouldn’t that be nice if I could? But I can’t, honey. Remember how I told you he doesn’t play well with other kitties? He’s such a silly scaredy cat! He’d be soooo scared of your kitty!”

3yoPN, in continuous denial (wonder where she gets this):“It’s otay, Auntie Waitzel. You come ovah and bring your titty tat, too.”

Upon the third, “I wish I could but I can’t,” she suddenly accepted this with an “Otay, BYE!” and pretty much dropped the phone on the floor.

Although I relish the fact that my niece wanted nothing more at that moment than for me to come ovah, I also love that she didn’t dwell on the bad news that I couldn’t make that happen at the drop of a hat. Throughout the years, I’ve learned tons from little ones and I am probably most jealous of their ability to forgive and move on. Now don’t get me wrong, I realize that they also have little sponge-like memories that can result in tantrums that go something like: “BUT YOU TOLD ME I COULD WATCH MY DORA MOVIE IF I WENT PEE PEE ON THE POTTY ALL DAY!” However, I’m often shocked how these tiny people who have only been on this planet a few short years can understand and accept abstract concepts.

On many occasions, I’ve had the very unfortunate experience of promising something to a child that I cannot ultimately deliver. I'm quite sure that noothing makes you feel like a bigger schmuck.

“Peanut, I know I told you that if you acted like a quiet little mouse during library time, I’d take you out for a Cowabunga Crazy Ice Cream Sundae With Rainbow Confetti afterward but ummm…I guess Cowabunga’s is closed today. I'm sorry.”

Cue the puzzled expression, the wrinkled brow, perhaps even some tears. And if they’re old enough, they might just make you suffer for it. However, an amazing number of little ones have picked up on my genuine sorrow at times like these, responding with a simple “It’s okay” while proceeding to build a tower of blocks.

And unlike the grown-ups around them who will dredge up crap from the past and sling it during a much different argument, you’ll rarely hear a preschooler remind you that you dropped the ball with Cowabunga’s two years ago or that you really "disappointed" them when you couldn’t come “ovah.” Instead they are just so happy to see you right now at this moment. The past isn’t such a big deal and there’s no point in worrying about tomorrow. Today is here and she’s got a ball that she wants to toss to you. Now. So catch. It’s the only ball she doesn’t want you to drop right now.