ESP

As a mother, especially of an almost four year old, I can usually predict what she is going to do or say. Like sometimes when she gets a really sweet look on her face, I know she is going to start hugging and kissing me and telling me she loves me over and over. This happens a lot when I take her to go get ice cream, to her favorite mexican food restaurant, etc...BUT then there are those moments out in public you try your best do distract them from their current thought process so what is about to come flying out of their mouth won't. However, children are not as distractible as they lead you to believe. I don't think I've been successful at completely disrupting the thought process only successful at delaying the outcome. For instance, if we are maneuvering a busy place and I say, "excuse me," her response is "why is that person getting in our way?" OR I (frequently) hear "Mom, she/he is not listening to their mommy. That's bad." Maybe I haven't adequately explained the "Don't pick the speck out of another's eye when you have a log sticking out of yours" Parable. These are relatively minor and expected comments. However, the other day we were in Target and a short-statured lady crossed our path. We made eye contact and I said, "hello" as I always do....we do live in the South, right???? Mary Ella's eyes quickly caught sight and might as well have broken her neck to see. WARNING WARNING, CHANGE COURSE, CHANGE COURSE. In my best attempt to distract her I quickly turned down another aisle saying, "oh, I need to check something out. Mary Ella, look at these pretty candles." Meanwhile, she's going "mom? Mom? MOOOOOOM!" Again, I was trying to delay the outcome of her thought-process. Finally, we reached a point of what I hope was safe and said, "Did you want to say something?" She stated (giggling I might add), "that lady was really short. She's really silly...." I'll spare you my "parental response" but I was oh, thankful we reached safety before that came out of her mouth. Just proof they always keep you on your toes!