Now?

Today I played dress up with Caroline. We both wore opera length gloves, fairy wings and flowy skirts. We even made tiaras out of paper, crayons and strings. This is what I always hoped to do with my little girl- imaginary play, not directed by a commercial Disney show. Just regular old play. Now, just so you don't all get jealous- here's the catch. It was 6:27am.

My visions of play never included a 6 on the clock. Sixes are for sleeping- for dreaming of fairies perhaps but not for actually pretending to be one.

Those of you have been reading for awhile, know that we have been fighting the early rising for as long as Caroline has been alive. We truly have tried everything. For awhile recently, I finally went back to the dreaded tv. I really don't want her to be a big tv watcher. I think it revs her up a bit and she has such a fantastic imagination- I just want her to use it as often as she can. But at 6am, I just don't make a fun mom so I tried again. Over the last few weeks, I allowed Caroline to watch tv in my bed. As has happened before, she woke earlier and earlier each day- I imagine in anticipation of what fun the morning program would be. So we are back to drawing board again.

And the drawing board requires playing the role of fairy princess at 6:27am... I guess these are those dreaded trade offs that everyone talks about. TV or not. Peace and quiet or not. Pretend play or not. Someday perhaps, I will have my cake and eat it too. Perhaps someday, there will be pretend play that begins at 8am...