Memory

Turns out M has a pretty long memory. He knows when we go to the big box grocery store that Daddy's work is right there too. We pull in to the parking lot and he starts to yell for Daddy. We have a very short trip to the store because he's melting down about Daddy for the duration of the shopping trip. Unless I bribe him with granola bars or smarties. In a real pinch we get the free cookie from the bakery. This is a normal trip to the grocery store for me.

Today we went for a quick trip. He held true to form and hollered Daddy as soon as we entered the parking lot. We ran in, grabbed diapers and milk, and ran back out in to the rain. I got him in to the car and we played the car seat game. This is the ever so familiar game...How straight can I make myself so mommy can't get me in the seat. He's pretty darn good at this game and he can go straight as a board, with no chance of me getting those little hips down in the seat. I bribed. I pointed out Daddy's work. I said we'd go see Daddy if he just sat in his seat. He sat. I strapped him in quickly, got in the car and headed for the other side of the parking lot.

We wandered in and Daddy was right at the front of the store. M was oh so happy to see him but he refused to let Daddy hold him. I couldn't figure out why since he's normally really eager to go to Daddy. And then it hit me. I had left him with his Daddy last week while I had some maintenance done on my car. I walked him in, gave him to Daddy and walked away while he screamed. He remembered. And he would not go to Daddy no matter what we suggested to him. No bribe was going to make this little monkey boy let go of his mommy. He was not having a repeat of the last time.

Have we permanently traumatized him? Is this a foreshadowing of what is to come? He starts full time day care on Monday. Do I need to start praying to the toddler gods for an easy transition or do I just wing it like everything else.

I suppose this is a time will tell situation. Unless something interesting happens this weekend, I'll let you all know Monday how it went.