In Living [Room] Color

Well, it finally happened. My hubby and I have been planning for this day since the day we found out we were pregnant with our first baby...you know, the day when they realize that walls are FAR more fun to color on than paper. Thankfully, since we've just pretty much been waiting for it, we weren't necessarily all that shocked or ridiculously pissed off.


Here's the thing, though. We've been teaching her for months, yes, MONTHS that "we only color on paper." We always tell her "paper only" so that she understands that paper is the only thing you can color on...This became a bit more complicated when we started introducing her to books, other than the board books she's had since she was a baby, as books ARE paper. So we've struggled a bit there, which I suppose is to be expected. For the most part though, she's stayed on track and only colors on paper. I found out today, though, that this was all a ploy. It was all a way to earn my trust, so that she would be allowed to have unlimited access to crayons, even when Mommy isn't in the room...

This morning, I went to the bathroom, and surprisingly she didn't follow me when I said "Mommy has to go potty." Yes, I announce every SINGLE time that I am going to the bathroom. I should have known that something was about to go down right then, but I didn't. Instead, I relished the idea of peeing without supervision, a rare opportunity once you become a parent. While I was in there (for what, I mean 2-3 minutes???) I heard it. I heard it, and there was NOTHING I could do to stop it...


When I came out of the bathroom, I saw her beautiful smile and the beautiful toddler mural with which she had so creatively enhanced our living room wall. I looked at her with the mom look: you know, serious eyes, head slightly tilted downward and to the side, arms on the hips and said, "Hayden, we only color on PAPER! Paper only!" And pointing at the recently enhanced wall, "THIS is NOT paper, Hayden. This is a WALL." She giggled incessantly, as if to say, "Come on, Mommy! White is BORING! Red is a much better color"...She never takes me seriously, even when I do the "mom face"...I think it's a toddler thing. Anyway, I said to her, "Give Mommy the crayon, please," and surprisingly she handed it over.

I guess I'm happy that this was the ONE room in the house that hasn't gotten a fresh coat of paint since I moved in, though. I mean, at least she didn't take a crayon to HER bedroom, which we spent WEEKS painting. So now, the question is whether or not we should paint the living room this spring or wait even longer, being that we still have one more creative little one who I'm sure will be just itching to add her creative touch to the walls.


Til Next time...