birthday girl October 12, 2005
Remember how I said I was the kid who would set out all of the tableware for her birthday party the night before, then freak out for 24 hours, fearing that someone might ruin my set-up? While I have never told this story to Bassie, the behavior seems to have seeped into her DNA somehow.
As I walked into her Pre-school classroom with cupcakes for her birthday, her teacher called to her. “Bassie, look who’s here!” Bassie turned to greet me with what I thought would be an expectant smile. Instead, she was horrified. “We’re not done with lunch!” she cried. Then she get hysterical. She started telling all of her friends that I had come to early. It was like watching a Class Presidental candidate canvassing her peers. She was winning them to her side. I had come too early. I had ruined her birthday. The crowd started to get ugly.
I reminded myself that I was the adult, and asserted control. “I’m not handing out the cupcakes until everyone is done eating lunch,” I announced. Bassie grew quiet. Calmed, she slowly returned to her seat, eyeing me suspiciously.
I asked her teacher if she was always this high-strung (and if so, why hadn’t I heard about it before)? “No, I think she’s just nervous about her birthday party.” Oh. I breathed a sigh of relief. Just one more way she’s like her mommy.
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