Better than birth control...

As mentioned before, I am extremely grateful that my friend and his wife are putting me up until I get my situation worked out here in LA. They've gone above and beyond for me and I'm truly in their debt.

They've also done a wonderful job with their two kids (ages around 3 1/2 and 20 months). Well behaved and listen as much as one could expect for kids their age. That said, I miss the time when they were slightly afraid of me.

Over the last few days, I've become fully accepted to the point where the youngest is now comfortable shoving a book into my hand and asking me to read to her. What this also means, is that I now have to be on my guard with anything and everything I do. 

Eating in particular is now something I have to sneak in with deft precision. If I'm not careful, the following scenario will occur:

Scene: I sit pleasantly eating some chips and salsa 

(enter the 1 and a half year old girl sporting a devastatingly cute bow and smiling)

Her: (sweetly) Mine?

Me: Um... I don't think you want this

Her: (louder) Mine?

Me: No, this isn't for you

Her: (emphatically) Mine.

Me: ...

Her: MIIIINE.

Me: Ok... here (hands her a tortilla chip)

Her: (sweetly) More?

Me: No... you have to eat what you have

Her: (louder) More?

Me: (leaves to find a vasectomy clinic)

End Scene

I always knew parenting was a tough gig, but to see it this up close, from the beginning of the day until its time for bed, is very eye-opening and gives me a whole new appreciation for what it means to be a parent.