My momma got me and my sister each the entire Dick and Jane series for Christmas, all published in one, hardback book. I let Kylie break it out the other night while I was reading Bloom, written by blogger Kelle Hampton, because Kylie wanted a book to read, too.
It's nights like this that I love having a little female around. We, females, are definitely created differently. That night, her and I spent a big portion of the evening in the kitchen. I was working on making chili while Kaden and Kylie were watching the Disney channel in Kylie's room, when in wandered Kylie. "What are you making?" she asked, "can I help?" She scooted a kitchen chair toward the stove to help stir in the ingredients.
Kaden had gone to the store with me earlier and picked out cake balls for dessert...if only I would have read the back with its lengthy detailed instructions amounting to only 12 balls of cake on sticks. At each new step, we had to again call Kaden into the kitchen as he wanted to help, but he kept disappearing to watch a new Austin & Ally.
We baked a cake, waited for it to cool, crumbled it, added frosting, rolled it into balls, melted wafers, coated ends of sticks in the melted goodness, poked the sticks into the balls of cake, cooled them in the refrigerator, melted more wafers, rolled in the cooled cake balls and coated them, sprinkled with sprinkles, cooled again, and enjoyed after supper!
Before supper, Kylie graciously passed out the chili bowls and asked her brother what he wanted to drink and filled his cup with his drink of choice. She loved every bit of serving and helping. I do it naturally, spoiling Keane as he watches sports on the television, asking him if he wants tea or milk with his chili. And I realize Kylie learns this from watching. It then because normal and natural for her to do it, too.
I learned this from my mother. This is exactly what she does in her household for those she loves. I was over visiting one day and I audibly announced that I wanted some Mountain Dew. In my mind I was thinking about going to the store or searching in their kitchen for some to pour myself, and before I knew it, my mother was handing me a glass of iced Mountain Dew. I wasn't requesting her to give me some, but she automatically did so.
And not too long after that, I was, again, over visiting and chatting, and I turned around to find my little bro handing me a cup of Mountain Dew. He had poured himself a glass and made me one too, without me asking or insinuating I wanted some. Unless I just drink entirely too much Mountain Dew, which could be the case, it goes to show that the kindness is passed down.
It's a sweet thing to watch as Kylie follows my actions and seems so natural about it. That night, the two of us put on matching pajamas (black gauchos, white tanks, and no socks) at her request, and cuddled under a blanket on the couch and read, while the boys played a game of Battleship. Girls will be girls.
Kylie fell asleep on my shoulder, hopefully feeling satisfied, accomplished, and happy. I wrapped up the chapter I was on, put my book down, and did my nightly routine of washing my face and brushing my teeth. When I came back into the living room, I thought the shortened version of Battleship was going to be through, but the boys were still naming off letters and numbers, hitting or missing. I could see Kaden's gameboard from where I stood and I looked to his ships to see where Keane has "hit."
Kaden had two ships left on his board, one with three holes to hit, and one with five. Each of these two ships had all but one hole pegged in red. And the two missing holes? They were in the center. The very center of the two ships were the only pegs Keane needed to hit before he won the game, but I stood there as he rambled off some letter and number combination, and I listened as Kaden happily yelled, "Miss!!"
I looked at Keane, still analyzing the situation before me, and saw his little smirk appear. I shook my head slightly and went into the kitchen. After a few more turns, Kaden hit the last of Keane's ships and proudly won the game. Keane came in a close second and he explained to Kaden that he had already shot his last missile before his battleship blew, and knowing right where his peg needed to land, his missile landed on Kaden's last ship...although Kaden said this didn't count.
Boys will be boys, and dads will be dads. I supposed that while Kaden doesn't realize his father's fake missle attempts, it doesn't hurt to take it easy on him. And hopefully he, too, went to bed feeling satisfied, accomplished, and happy. And that's what matters.
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