So Destructo, who was suffering from the effects of the flu vaccine (Eeeeevil!), has found some strength and realized he is hungry. He comes downstairs with me and watches as I set The DIVA on a multi-colored mat of puzzle pieces, left by D.B. as she headed off to bed blithely unaware of the chaos she left in the living room.
Destructo: "Mama, why did you do that?"
My somewhat distracted answer consisted only of "Because...." as I considered peanut butter & jelly versus something more time consuming but less messy.
Destructo: "Mama, Because is not an answer."
Now, flashes of earlier today and preceding days chase each other through my mind. I see pictures of D.B. doing various things she shouldn't - to the dog, to her toys, to her brother. After each incident, I hear myself ask her why she thought that was a good idea. Her answer, of course, was "Because" followed by a never-ending pause as she hoped I would fill in the rest. Hence my response to her each time, "Because is not an answer."
At least someone was listening, I guess. Too bad, instead of taking it to heart, Destructo chose to turn it back upon the initiator.
I feel the burn.
Also, a few short minutes later, I told him to stop repeating himself.
Me: "Please stop repeating yourself, I hate when you do that. I hear you. Please give me a chance to answer."
Destructo: "Mama, don't say hate. We don't say hate. It's not nice."
Burned again. However, I take a little reassurance in the fact that at least this message WAS directed at Destructo himself, who is in the midst of using various inappropriate words during his terrible two's tantrums.
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