I remember being pregnant with Laina and hearing that old myth about how your second child will be your firsts exact opposite.
I couldn’t picture it. I couldn’t picture having anything other than a carbon copy of Maile.
They couldn’t be more different. Of course there are SOME characteristics that are similar, but the core of their personalities are SO different.
Maile is my shy, cautious, “you go first and then maybe I’ll do it but probably not” child. She does not hop onto the lap of a stranger…in fact she gives death looks to people she doesn’t know. You all saw the Santa picture. She’s my reclusive angel.
Laina on the other hand is a free spirit. She’s my “hey I’ll do it, you want me to do it?? I pay no mind to rules and regulations and if you want me to do it I’ll do it!!!!”
Maile LOVES this about Laina and encourages her to break all the rules that Maile is aching to break. Maile has the BEST cackling laugh and if ever it is heard in combination with the words, “do it Laina!!” you know trouble is being had.
Laina has no clue what her physical boundaries are and I constantly worry about her lack of attention to the big picture. She nearly gave me a heart attack when she was 22 months old and we were leaving the University of Washington after watching some volleyball. The main gym of the college is set up on a VERY VERY busy street.
We walked over to a statue of nothing other than a Husky dog and Laina refused to leave it, what on account of it being a dog and all. So we tried the “uh oh, your family is leaving without you, look at us walk away and you’re going to be all. by. yourself” trick and it didn’t work.
Laina would not pull herself from the dog.
Pat walked back to use physical force and pry her from the statue, but Laina saw his oncoming presence as an opportunity to play chase and took off towards the VERY VERY busy street.
My heart stopped as I watched Laina standing on the CURB in a stance that said “you can’t get ME Dad!!! And if you take another step I’m going to run away right into this VERY VERY busy street!!!” (cars were HONKING at her!)
Pat was smart though and thankfully did not make any sudden movements that would cause Laina to turn and run. I cried all the way home (7 months pregnant) at the thought of how horribly different our night could have turned out.
Laina is three and a half now and you would think with age would come submission to the fact that the world is not her playground. Not the case.
The other day Pat and I took the girls to The Children’s Museum and I left the family to go pay for parking. While Pat was unloading all the kids Laina decided to run through the parking lot to help me.
I turned just in time to see her dart in front OF A GIANT SUBURBAN!!!
Laina froze like a confused squirrel, I screamed like a little girl having a bad dream, and the Suburban SLAMMED on there brakes.
With a hand on my heart I ran out to Laina, waved at the giant Suburban as a quick thank you for not smashing my three year old and then proceeded to scream at my daughter.
“You can’t DO THAT!!! Do you SEE Laina!?!! Do you SEE how that car almost smashed you!??? You CAN NOT run through parking lots!!” She started crying and I think something FINALLY clicked.
She’s terrified in parking lots now and insists on holding my hand. I’m sad that it took TWO near death experiences to break my girl…but I’m glad she’s a little more aware of the dangers around her. She’s sticking a little closer to her mama these days and I’m not complaining about that.
At least…for now.