Packing up

It's become increasingly difficult to keep the house picked up these days.

Adele is SO into pretend play that she comes up with these very elaborate scenarios, creates a world with tons of props, and stays in character for a very long time.

She commonly pretends to be Anna or Elsa from Frozen and creates a scenario for them, or she and Henry will be pirates on a treasure hunt, or sometimes her pretend play will be more realistic - she will pretend to be moving into a new house and introduce herself to us (with David being her gardener and me being her cook), or she will go on a trip to visit Nanny and Popa in Washington or Grandma and Grandma in Iowa, or she'll get ready to go to Nicaragua or Costa Rica.

Recently I've noticed a common theme that's present among pretty much all situations - she spends a lot of time packing.

I'm pretty sure that's what she thinks we do all the time. Pack.

If she's moving into a new house? She'll pack. If she's going on a treasure hunt as a pirate? She'll pack first. Gotta make sure she's well prepared, you know.

Adele will spend a very long time getting all sorts of things out to pack. She'll pack a backpack (or two), roll more toys and clothes up in a blanket, find a box or basket to put even more things in...it never ends.

She also has a great memory. Which means that as she's getting all her belongings out again and again and again and re-packing again and again and again, she prefers to leave everything just as it was when she goes down for a nap or bed.

And everything she packs is so random. So even we do get to a point that we can pick up (just so she can start over the next day), she has packed items from every possible basket or toy chest in the house. It would take me a very long time to get the toys and clothes and blankets and stuffed animals back in their proper spots.

I'm trying not to let it bother me too much. I love organization. But I really love the fact that my girl is so creative with a huge imagination.

And in other news in the world of imagination...Henry thinks there are dinosaurs in our house.

They consistently hang out by our front door, and throughout the day he will randomly run over, point to them, and excitedly say "dinosaurs!" Before he goes down for a nap or bed, he will also make his rounds telling everyone goodnight and giving kisses, so he will wave to the dinosaurs and yell out "goodnight dinosaurs!" on his way into his room.

My kids rock.

"I want my daughter to be..."

Recently I was in an office and I saw a magazine nearby with the title of an article "I want my daughter to be a strong independent woman."

To be honest, it really turned me off to even reading the article (which of course I couldn't do anyway, as I was keeping Henry from jumping off chairs).

Granted, the article could have been great. Even the title got me thinking. I mean, who doesn't want their daughter to be a strong independent woman?

But here's the thing. If I were to identify qualities I want MY daughter to have when she grows up, strong and independent are not at the top of the list.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not pushing for a weak, helpless grown woman.

But here are the qualities that I truly want my daughter to have:

Compassionate. I want Adele to be tender-hearted. To have a feeling of deep sorrow for others who are suffering from misfortune. And to be so overcome with that sympathy, that her heart desires to help alleviate the suffering. I want Adele to care.

Selfless. I want Adele to think first and foremost about others. To be generous with her time and money. I want her to see ways in which she can contribute to the world, and not be focused on ways the world revolves around her.

Kind. I want Adele to go beyond just being nice, but I want her to be considerate, and helpful, and gentle, and loving. I want this to be so part of her nature that she displays kindness both in her words and her actions.

Truthful/Honest. I want Adele to be honorable in her actions. To be fair, and sincere. I want people to see her as trustworthy, always struggling and striving to do the right thing.

Genuine. I want Adele to be real, not someone pretending to be something she's not. So that when she displays the other aforementioned characteristics, they will be real, coming from her heart.

Some might look at this list and not be able to see how a strong independent woman could fit this mold.

I beg to differ.

And some might look at this list and see a it as very girly.

But truth be told, it's the same list I have for Henry. :)