I've written about Darcy before. I probably didn't mention that she has a very bad habit. And it's not that she sticks things up her nose sometimes. She's only done it twice. But it's genetic. When I was little I did it too. She also draws on things...
*These photos were taken about two years ago. If anyone is wondering about Darcy's turned eye or the patch, it has all been rectified.
Please click here for details.
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| It was just after breakfast, and I went back into my room to make my bed. I saw this immediately. I think I started having heart palpitations at the exact moment I saw this, and it was my gut reaction to seek out the guilty party and punish them solidly for defacing my property. And then I wanted to cry. These were my favourite sheets. And then I thought about it logically. I had probably left the pen that was used within the reach of a small child. I created the temptation. And then I started to laugh. I found my camera, and started taking photos, just on the off chance that one day I might laugh about this. |
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| And then I disappeared into our ensuite to fetch some cleaning products or something that might be able to help with this situation. And I saw this. On the wall above the toilet. I think I probably started crying again. But then I pulled out the camera and took more photos. |
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| On the wall to the right of the toilet was this. Some random scrawls, which, in the eye of a small child, could possibly be your family. |
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| And this a little further across the same wall. Becoming familiar with circular patterns. |
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| And on the opposite wall near the toilet paper holder, some better circular patterns. Clearly this wall was done last. Much better technique. |
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By now I had composed myself enough to call in the two little cherubs who were my suspects. Butter wouldn't melt right?
"Do you two know why I have called you in here?" Olivia: "Because Darcy drew on your bed?" Darcy: (Crying). "I didn't draw on your bed!" |
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"Are you sure Darcy?"
"OKAY - I did... please don't be angry Mummy." |
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"I'm not cranky. But this was VERY naughty. Tell me what you did Darcy."
"Well... this is my name..." |
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| Olivia: "No Darcy. That's not real writing. Tell Mum the truth." |
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| "This is when we went to the park." |
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| "This is when we went to town." (Actually, it looks like a very good heart...) |
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| "And this... I forget what this is." |
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| Olivia:"Tell me about this one again Darcy." |
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| "Mummy - stop taking photos! This isn't funny!" |
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"No Mummy! STOP IT!"
No means no with this girl.
I did eventually get the pen out of the sheets though. And the pen off the bathroom walls (even if I did lose a layer of paint in the process.) And I got cranky. But I put it into perspective first. They're only material possessions. And they're only children. |
It's not just Darcy though. Olivia has been known to deface property as well. When she was very small she drew in pen on my uncle's new leather lounge. I was devastated. But this is my favourite. It was on the wall of our front verandah. You have to walk past it to get into our house. I knew who was the guilty party as soon as I saw it. "Ol Persse Art" is the giveaway. Darcy couldn't write, and Olivia was learning at the time it was done.
I asked, "Did you do this Olivia?"
To which she replied, "No Mummy. It was Darcy." And then I was more cranky about the lying than the graffiti! I made Olivia help me remove it, and she cried the whole time. She hasn't done it since.
The thing with small children is that they're opportunists. You leave a pen out, they'll draw on your stuff. They don't mean to hurt your feelings. They don't want to cause you extra work. They just want to be children. And I for one am glad of the memories. Here I am two years on, laughing, not crying about it.
