Wednesday, June 13, 2007

5 Going on 25

It seems like in the eight days since my Oldest's birthday, in which she turned "big 5" as she likes to say, she has undergone a complete personality change. Please tell me this is just a phase!

She is now jumping into the shower by herself and deciding that because she is 5, she can use Mommy's shampoo and conditioner. I'll catch her after she has already squirted half a bottle of shampoo down the drain and half a bottle of conditioner on her hair. I'm NOT kidding. She also thinks she is old enough to "mother" Middle and tells her to get in the tub and proceed to bathe her using a whole bottle of baby wash and flooding the bathroom floor. Youngest, meanwhile, slips on a puddle of water and bangs her head and runs to me crying, soaked to the skin and I run in to the bathroom, only to see Oldest as proud as she can be, giving Middle a bath. I have also caught her using my deodorant on her armpits, her legs and her tummy.

The other day, I walked in the kitchen and caught Oldest doing the dishes. We don't have a dishwasher (unless you count me) and have to do the dishes by hand. Oldest wants to do them so bad (let's see how she feels when I make her do it everyday when she is OLDER) and dragged a chair over to the sink, squirted a cup of dish soap on the sponge and started washing. All the dishes she washed have a layer of soap still on them and there is now water all over the counter, dripping onto the floor. I have recently discovered our kitchen floor is not even, because the water starts trickling to the other side of the room instead of puddling by the sink. She is covered up to her elbows in soap suds and the front of her shirt is soaked with water and soap.

This morning, Oldest woke me up a little earlier than I normally wake, and said she was hungry (maybe if she would eat all her dinner the night before, she wouldn't be so darn hungry in the morning!) and I told her I'd get up in a little bit. Hubby reported to me that he caught her in the kitchen with the frying pan on the stove and getting ready to crack some eggs.

I sat Oldest down today and explained to her that she STILL has to ask permission to do things and she can't just do things because she is "big 5". Shortly after that, while I was busy changing Youngest's poopy diaper, I walked in the kitchen and caught Oldest making a bowl of oatmeal. She dragged the chair to the pantry door to flip up the latch we have to lock the pantry door, got 2 packets of instant oatmeal, dragged the chair to the cupboard for the measuring cup and heated water in the microwave. Opened packets and half landed in the bowl and half landed on the counter. Beep! goes the microwave, she gets the hot water and proceeds to pour, stir, add sugar and consume entire contents of bowl in less than 5 minutes.

Oh God! While I DO encourage independence, this all seems a little early for a 5 year old. My life is now going to be spent keeping a closer eye on Oldest to make sure she doesn't get into something she shouldn't. Is this normal??? For those of you with kids older than mine, did yours do that when they turned 5?? Please, please, please tell me this is just a phase and she will revert to back to her old self again.

8 comments:

lady macleod said...

I'm sorry I can't help because I can't stop laughing. See it's funny from over here because I don't have to worry about her falling off the chair or microwaving herself. I would guess it will slack off a bit once the glow of the birthday is gone. A fine line to walk though, you don't want to discourage that wonderful streak of independence and helpfulness. Good luck with that, sorry I'm still smiling.

Annie said...

My 2 year old does all of this! Maybe not with the same degree of accomplishment as your 5 year old, but she trys none the less, and some days it's more trying than others!

Good luck, and if I figure out how to grow eyes in the back of my head, I'll let you know.

Unknown said...

I don't have kids, and I can't help you out here. Nonetheless, I enjoy your blog. Today's post is funny. I'm sorry to say that. However, I'll forward this post to my two deaf, dear friends who have children. Hopefully, they'll share their experiences.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I could never cook or bake without my two kids dragging chairs over and saying "I help you Mummy." Cherish this time because it goes far, far too quickly. Then she'll insist you buy a certain brand of shampoo, she won't touch the dishes, and she'll turn her nose up at oatmeal.

BOSSY said...

Let's just hope when she's 25 she's not going on 5. That's what really matters.

The Good Woman said...

What a talented young thing. Go on - tell me you're not just a little proud. Of course, in 3 years time I may feel differently...

IndianaJones said...

You are proud...you must be, just a little I mean what ingenuity, what dexterity, what confidence! I think this all just mean you've been doing something oh so right the last 5 years. I don't envy the situation but at the rate my girl is going I'll catch up to your frustrations real quick.
side note my nephew just turned 5 and all leading up to it he kept making the statement "when I'm five I'll be big and do....insert adult activity here" So far he is neck and neck with your oldest...so maybe it is a 5 thing...couldn't tell you if it is a phase or not though...guess we just wait and see...
just remind yourself as you are cleaning up and re-explaining about the boundaries of being a child and not an adult yet that you are a good Mama to have such a capable girl...

jenny said...

Lady M-- I'm glad you are able to laugh at this... She is still at it today and I am doing what I can! Thanks for stopping by!

Annie-- Welcome back from your trip! I missed reading your posts. I could use some eyes in the back of my head... My girls are already wondering how I can hear them jumping in the next room if I am deaf, and I wont tell them it is because I can FEEL the vibrations!

Beth-- Thanks for stopping by and sharing with your friends! I could use some tips!

Coffee-- I am looking forward to finishing my island for the kitchen so I can have the kids on the OTHER side of the table instead of on either side of me and the third elbowing her way in. I'll count my blessings!

Bossy-- So true!! Thanks for stopping by!

Good Woman-- Ok, I am a leeetle bit proud of her, but just WISH she'd ask me first so I can supervise.... LOL

Summer-- I admit, I do marvel at her accomplishments and just the other day I told Hubby that the girls really are GOOD girls, even though they have their moments. Just like I have mine.
Mom always used to tell me that the way children behave is a reflection of their parents so I should take it as a compliment that Oldest wants to do such things on her own. That IS what I have been teaching her, after all. I mean, parenthood is sometimes all about repeating yourself over and over until it finally seeps in their little brains.