Dessert Lover

The first night Miss M came to live with me

We went to Oregano's

I decided to do something special and get the 

AMAZING
YUMMY
DELICIOUS

Chocolate Chip Pizza Cookie

As dessert

BEFORE

We ate our main meal.

The problem is that now,

A MONTH LATER

(Yes!  It's a month as of today.)

She thinks that every time we go out for dinner

That means we get dessert.

Sigh.

(Someday I'll learn.)

I've explained

And re-explained

That just isn't so.

That night was a special night.

That restaurant is our special restaurant.

When we go there, we will spoil ourselves.

(We only will go there once a month.)

But no dessert other places.

It's just not sinking in.

Tonight

I was tired

Hot

Tired

And frankly, cooking dinner was the last thing I wanted to do.

So I finally used up a California Pizza Kitchen gift certificate I got from

Someone

Some time

A while ago.

As we are walking in

Miss M starts talking about dessert.

I have the "dessert" conversation with her

Again.

We ordered

We practiced her spelling words on the iPad until our food comes.

She exclaimed about the yummy pizza 

And perfect crust.

And then she saw the dessert menu.

Sigh.

Then came the talk about how good a brownie would be.

Oh, wait.

The ice cream sundae is even better.

I listen

But I don't engage.

Then

The wheels start turning.

"I have money, Mommy."

"Yes, you do."

"The ice cream sundae is just a dollar."

(I do a double check at the kid's menu - 

And I am surprised that is true.)

"Yes, it is."

"So we could come again,

And I could bring a dollar,

And I could buy dessert."

"Yes, I supposed you could."

"Or, you could buy it for me

Tonight

And I could pay you back when we get home."

"Hmmm...that's a thought."

Eyes light up.

Drama-filled eyes.

(I swear, she looks like a cartoon when she does it.)

"So are you saying yes?"

"I didn't say anything because I never heard a question."

She turns to face me square on.

(Her hands might have been clasped in prayer - 

Or that might be MY over-dramatization)

"Mommy?  Can you 

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

Buy me an ice cream sundae and I will pay you back the $1 when we get home?"

"Yes.  That will be okay."

Delightful squeals follow.

(Thankfully it was really full in there.)

Then I continue.

"This time.

But spending your allowance money on dessert is only going to happen once a month.

Not more.

Got it?"

"Got it."

(I'm getting really good at bursting bubbles just as they start to grow.)

Here is the picture I took as proof of:

1).  How big a sundae they give to kids at CPK for $1 (if you purchase a kid's meal).

2).  The sundae with her thumb's up so she couldn't forget and then not pay me.  (Okay, so I wouldn't forget and remember to have her pay up.)

She oohed

And ahhed 

over EVERY bite.

She held the bowl up to her mouth like a wine goblet and literally licked out every last drop.

(I should have put a stop to that, but...whatever.)

Sigh.

My little drama girl.

(I've got to find an acting group for her!)

PS.

I did get the dollar.

At bedtime.

We were playing roses and thorns.

The whole day was a rose.

(It usually is....thankfully.)

But I always make her say at least 3 specific reasons WHY it was a rosy day.

The ice cream sundae was one of the 3.

That reminded me to get the dollar.

Whew.

Praise Reports:

--I had my last weekly visit with my On-Going Casework from the agency I was licensed and trained through today.  This is a praise not because it's not good for me to meet with her, but the number of meetings is now reduced from once a week to once a month.  This will make my life, and calendar, quite a bit easier.

Prayer Requests:

--Selfishly - it is the same as last night.  I am really praying that Miss M's visit will be for the full time length that it is supposed to be so that I can spend time with a dear friend.  I need the friend therapy time, badly, and it's really hard to do that with an 8 year old who listens in on everything.  The scheduled visit, with transportation included, is supposed to be 8:30 - 1:30, but the past two Saturdays I've gotten a call between 11:00 and 11:30 that they were bringing her back home already. That makes planning anything kind of hard when it's a two hour difference from what was originally set-up.