Raina the Hostess
Over MLK weekend, we had a few guests over to visit: Dave Molfese and John Kindschuh on Saturday, and Eric Rowe's family on Sunday. Just like I do with the adults in the house, I remind Raina that we're having visitors so she's not completely surprised when they arrive in her house. All day Saturday she said "Mommy's friends are coming" and then she was a perfectly demure and respectful miss while they were here. (The only thing is that she routinely showed a little too much of her backside -- her pants kept sliding down because she doesn't have the additional diaper girth to keep them up.) She played by herself during appetizers, happily hung out at the dinner table while the adults talked and talked and talked, and then easily and smoothly went to sleep. When the adults didn't leave the dining room quickly enough, Raina called out "Be quiet! I'm trying to sleep!" and then promptly did.
The next day Raina got up and asked "Where John? Where Dave? Where your friends, Mommy?" She understood that they went home but she was a little disappointed by it. Then she was very happy to hear we were having people over again and this time there would be a little boy, Ethan, just her age.
We told her that Ethan was two, and that they could play together. Raina's response: "I'll show him my toys and books. My cow too." Her parents quickly overreacted, envisioning the worst case scenario of Ethan liking the cow and Raina freaking out about it. We quickly downplayed the need for the cow to emerge, telling Raina that she could choose some toys to put away so that Ethan couldn't play with them. But no worries. Ethan and the rest of the Rowes arrived and after a little bit of "warming up" time, everything was glorious again. Raina ate lots of food at the table, which always puts her in a good mood, and commented that "the baby's crying -- she needs her mommy." After Raina ate all the food she wanted, she quickly jumped to the task of showing Ethan more toys: trains and the farm/barn and puzzles and books. She even brought the cow out proudly, but Ethan really wasn't impressed. They had a good time together but then it was naptime for everyone so we called it to a close.
According to Eric Rowe, that was the quickest Ethan had warmed up to anyone, and after he got up from his nap that day, he said "I play with Raina ALL DAY!" So it's time to set up another play date for adults and kids :) I am rather proud of how Raina conducts herself with guests; her easy-going and kind nature just shines through. She's a great kid.
The next day Raina got up and asked "Where John? Where Dave? Where your friends, Mommy?" She understood that they went home but she was a little disappointed by it. Then she was very happy to hear we were having people over again and this time there would be a little boy, Ethan, just her age.
We told her that Ethan was two, and that they could play together. Raina's response: "I'll show him my toys and books. My cow too." Her parents quickly overreacted, envisioning the worst case scenario of Ethan liking the cow and Raina freaking out about it. We quickly downplayed the need for the cow to emerge, telling Raina that she could choose some toys to put away so that Ethan couldn't play with them. But no worries. Ethan and the rest of the Rowes arrived and after a little bit of "warming up" time, everything was glorious again. Raina ate lots of food at the table, which always puts her in a good mood, and commented that "the baby's crying -- she needs her mommy." After Raina ate all the food she wanted, she quickly jumped to the task of showing Ethan more toys: trains and the farm/barn and puzzles and books. She even brought the cow out proudly, but Ethan really wasn't impressed. They had a good time together but then it was naptime for everyone so we called it to a close.
According to Eric Rowe, that was the quickest Ethan had warmed up to anyone, and after he got up from his nap that day, he said "I play with Raina ALL DAY!" So it's time to set up another play date for adults and kids :) I am rather proud of how Raina conducts herself with guests; her easy-going and kind nature just shines through. She's a great kid.
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