Profound Change

I witnessed change from a baby today. Actually, she has been changing all along, but she reminded me of the days gone by when I would watch for every indicator of Laurel's own metamorphoses. There are more than science would have you believe and very few parents really take notice of these rare celebratory moments.

Rare indeed to be seen but oh so common in occurrence. My niece has been a fit to date. By fit I mean to say that as long as I have known her in speaking terms, she has been a "terrible two" and full of piss and vinegar. Mind you I have also learned her ways and how to approach the precocious tot as she has learned my ways as well. I am not as easy to bowl over as her own parents and I think she understands the world a little better through my eyes and example. Her parents are still gods in her eyes as it would be expected to be and I am merely an enchanting devil who amuses her at times and also is quick to torment her. Now before you get all in a tiff about an older adult bullying a youth, understand that is only how she perceives it, though I will cop to a rare moment when we have all had enough of "her highness" and I will tug a lock of hair or mock faces in her strife to remind her the world doesn't evolve around her many actressing ploys. Overall she's a good kid and like all children she has grown accustomed to the environment she lives in and how its dynamics work right down to manipulation for her own benefit. Her parents, my brother and his girlfriend, don't always agree and each is quick to accuse the other of some foolish infraction while they both are committing the same parental mistakes and the little miss takes advantage of every opportunity. I see right through this and make a point of bringing most of it to light, not all because even tots are allowed to have a break from rules and regulations. Today, marked a great change gone unnoticed by their squabbling.

She has been sick as of late with a stomach irritation and growth spurt. All kids go through them and some are barely noticeable as this one was. Beyond the ability to hold down food, due to her body being occupied trying to get things in order for the "big developments," she was even more irritable. She also was quite content with sticking to her own bedtime and little fuss about naps. Her most profound change had been her voice. The chords of her voice are thickening this time around and the cutesy squeak we have come to loathe when she is miserable has passed to more vocabulary and a deeper resonance. She is aware of her own change and has been chatty and talkative as she rather enjoys being able to articulate better and more audibly. She has been practicing her language alone, just as her older cousin had, in the solitude of her room when no one is listening, or so she thinks. Her walk is more stable and her wants are few as she is now accustomed to better discipline and all around I like her more. As much as it is stressful to be here when I am accustomed to my lone existence with my own almost adult daughter, I think it has done her well for me to be here as another example to her about fairness, sharing and behavior that is proper. Before I wouldn't have taken her out in public for all the tea in China and now, I believe she will behave almost like a young lady is to be expected, excepting when she is over tired. It's a shame her parents missed the opportunity to encourage her and applause the milestone with her. I can't blame them really as most parents that get caught up in the daily activity of life do miss these things, and I having so much free time to examine the mundane never fail to notice. Like a scientist observing a tribe of aboriginals and only interfering in the slightest. She knows my dominance and is yielding more and I look forward to helping and encouraging more milestones as long as the fates allow.

Take notice of the wee ones. Don't disregard the little intricacies that come their way and cherish each one as they do. She will never speak like she did a few days ago. Her walk will never be so wobbly as it once had been and she is a little more independent each and every day.~mobe's love to her all and her all to her loves.