Peace was temporarily restored following the whole rabbit charade, but bedtimes have been turning into a bit of a circus once more.
Betty has taken to getting out of her bed, when she is supposed to be asleep, and entertaining (bordering on terrorising) Dolly. Dolly's hysterical laughter often turn to cries of despair. Betty's nightly antics begin with sweetly singing and dancing for her sister, and very rapidly descend to taunting her by removing all her cuddly friends and placing them in the laundry basket, or wedging them between the cot and the mattress so that Dolly can't get to them, or piling board books into the cot so that Dolly has nowhere to lay her head, or unzipping Dolly's sleeping bag and getting her out of it. Considering Betty is only a couple of feet tall and has to carry out these maneaouvres through the cot bars in the dark, it's all quite impressive.
Tom remarked that things were getting out of hand up there again, of late, and perhaps we should try to do something about it. So after a bit of brainstorming, we introduced Betty to Tinkerbell - an invisible fairy who watches her at night to make sure that she doesn't get out of bed. And if she manages to stay in her bed all night with no baby taunting, Tinkerbell is so happy that she hides a sweetie somewhere in the house or garden for Betty to find at some point the following day. Tinkerbell has worked absolute miracles. Ever since her arrival on the scene, Betty has toed the line in all aspects of Button daily life. The threat that she might be making Tinkerbell sad will make her do exactly as we tell her. We have been feeling very smug.
Then my friend came over with her little boy, and I began relaying this triumph to her, discreetly, and quietly, and mostly in code. My friend applauded our success and then said 'so where do you hide the sweets?'. She didn't shout it, but she didn't whisper it. However Betty was about 100 metres away from us and having her own animated conversation with the little boy, so I assumed she hadn't heard it.
After breakfast this morning, Betty sighed, and coolly said to Tom: 'So has mummy hidden the sweetie yet?'
6 comments:
Oh dear, that must have been devastating. For you, I mean. It's funny how we all wish for intelligent children - but fear to be out-smarted by them. Well, at least I do.
PS: Fat and mousy? I really don't think so.
It's amazing how they can pick up on the tiniest remark and remember it forever - but conveniently forget the important things you tell them (such as 'No screaming in the library'...).....
I absolutely adore your Tinkerbell plan...genius! Betty is one smart cookie...is it going to be a case of keeping one step ahead of her!
hi MM, my fear of being outsmarted has gone, it's just a given. Mousey brown hair as opposed to the beautiful (bottle) blonde locks i used to have!
Hi Nappy, yes iknow!! selective heairng/memory, just like certain older members of my family
Hi MB, it was pretty genius, but is no more!
hi sparx, yes, when it suits them!
Betty triumphs again! Betty for Prime Minister!
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