Excuse me, is this my child?

Do you ever have days where you child seems different? I speak of Anna today. We woke up just fine, very cheery and very excited about breakfast. We started to get dressed and I told her we were going to her friend, Carson's house to play! (Carson is my very good friend, Lynette's son...he and Anna were both born on 1.25.03!) Other children were going to be there and she was THRILLED!

It was a fantastic play date. At one point we had 8 children there, all 3 years old or younger and it could not have gone better. It was time to leave and everything was fine until we were almost home and Anna asked me to hand her something that I could not reach because, well, I was driving! I said "not right now, honey, Mommy is driving." And she cried so hard. Not typical for this child.

She proceeded to cry alot. It was definitely nap time, so we were getting ready for bed and she turned around quickly and ran right into the wall, hitting her little forehead. I then picked up the blanket she dropped, started to stand and step forward at the same time and ran my forehead into the same wall. (at that moment, I knew I would mention it in my blog!) She then hit her hand one something. All these injuries to add fuel to the fire. Anna is a great sleeper, she never fights it. Until today. She didn't just fight it, she just wanted to keep hugging and kissing me. It was very strange, like she was desperate for me not to leave her side. I finally talked her into sleeping by letting her sleep with her Sunshine Carebear. (funshine bear?) She slept about 2 hours. She woke up behaving the same way.

I had decided to attend my first Weight Watchers meeting tonight. So, Brian came home, we ate dinner, chatted a bit and I grabbed my coat and my purse and she yelled "I come with you." I explained that I was going to a meeting, but I would be right back and she said "hug and kiss." (which is very typical) However, I would hug and kiss her and normally she would turn around and busy herself with something else, but tonight as soon as we hugged and kissed she would want another and another and another and another. I find it to be very irritating that I was irritated with all of the hugs and kisses from my child, but I couldn't help it. So, I did the cold, awful (but correct!) thing and left. I swear on everything holy, that I could hear her screaming while in my van out side of the garage as I was pulling out. According to her father, she threw a horrible, terrible, outrageous tantrum for over 15 minutes. Not typical. Since Noah watches and mimicks everything Anna does, I'm sure he'll do the same tomorrow. how exciting.

Anyway, she continued this behavior after I got home and until she fell asleep, I would try to leave her bed and she would leap up and wrap her arms around my neck and kiss me 15 times asking me to stay, but I knew I couldn't stay. So, she fell asleep with her bedroom door slightly open. (it's usually closed)

I can never understand why a child changes their behavior. I suppose I'm supposed to think she was being naughty and that I should have punished her, but I couldn't. What if there was something more. An insecurity that she can't verbalize, or perhaps an intuition. Or was she so tired from playing so hard with her friends that she just couldn't function properly. Maybe she is getting sick.

One thing for sure is that I just wish she knew how hard it was to leave her room tonight. I easily could have laid in bed with her, while she held my hand and played with my hair. How easy that would have been.

Tomorrow is a new day.