non-negotiables

Well we are a solid nine months into the year of the two's. (break for applause)  I know I've said it before but living with a two year old is a little bit like having a terrorist hanging around your kitchen.  You never know when they're going to try and hold you hostage.  Odds are highly in your favor that it will be during a mundane task like getting dressed or exiting the car.  Only they won't pull out a gun, no they're much smarter then that.  Their will is their weapon.
But I'm in my second round of this whole two-thing and mama has a few tricks up her sleeve.  I mean, I know it's the end of the world that your sister gets to obtain the smiley face from the receipt checker at Costco but if you'll agree to not stage a smackdown in the store I will reward you with a fruit snack.
Stayed tuned for my new book entitled: Parenting:  3/4 patience, 1/4 fruit snacks.
But even though little pookie has pushed me to my limits on more than one occasion I have to say I'm loving all the personality that has come through this year.  As part of our arrangement in the smackdown/ toxic food bribery department I have agreed to let a few things go.  These are what we lovingly call:  the non-negotiables.

1. Since mid August Ian has decided that he is a "inja" (ninja).  This means that he will pull his shirt off in various places and choreograph sound effects to his invisible sword.  Sometimes it's one sleeve,

 and sometimes it's two.

Yes, it can be embarrassing as it appears my son is rehearsing for a drag queen performance.  But there are more important battles to be fought and good gracious the boy can only eat so many fruit snacks in a day.

 2.  Despite my best efforts at a faux-hawk Ian is a staunch conservative when it comes to his hair.

 3. And his shoes.  The kid owns more than one pair of edgy shoes but he insists on these.  He calls them his "chewch shoes" and tries to wear them to bed over his footie jammies.  I will neither confirm nor deny that Ben and I hid them in the armoire and claimed they were lost on multiple occasions, resulting in tears and barefoot stomping.  The boy has some mad stomping skills.

 4.  Yes, it's the classic thumb sucking, belly button rubbing comfort mechanism.  It is the joy of my day.  It is the signal for stress and the cuddle on the couch and the soothing motion during our nightly reading of goodnight moon.  It is him and that is why I love it.  

 It never ceases to amaze me how two children can come from the same womb and be complete opposites in every way.  Where Ava is adventurous, Ian is cautious.  Where Ava is loud, Ian is quiet.  When Ava runs, Ian clings.  But in his own way he is taking steps towards independence.  And while I wouldn't mind trading in a few of those right-in-the-middle-of-aisle-nine tantrums or ending every sentence with the word "poop", I definitely wouldn't trade the boy who looks at me with spiderman eyes and wants to be held a little longer.  Because those kisses are non-negotiable.