Sometimes, your kids surprise you in the best ways. On a recent flight to Seattle, Magnolia suddenly became "friendly airport kid." She made her way around the gate area, making observations about everyone. "Hey, she has flip-flops on . . . it's not really time for flop-flops yet!!" "Look, Mommy, she's laying down on the floor!" "Hey, he looks like Daddy kind of, except he's bigger!" Everyone laughed. Clad in her silver fluffy skirt and bright red tights and radiating her new "love everyone" personality, she was named "Little Miss Sunshine" by the flight attendants. She was so good, even I couldn't believe it — especially after the hell we've been going through with the whole paci thing.
She might have pissed off one passenger, though. On one of her many walks to the bathroom (remember: she was just potty-trained, which means she feels she must sit on a public toilet every ten minutes), she started a sunshiny conversation with the lady in front of us.
Magnolia: "Hi!"
Lady in front of us: "Well, hello."
M: "Um, this is my Daddy. Do you have a Daddy?"
Lady: "I used to, but he's not here any more."
M: "Oh, well . . . when are you gonna get a new Daddy?" (Nice to know she sees parents as totally replaceable). The woman chuckled and we started to feel a little uncomfortable, so we started trying to reel in our friendly little daughter.
But, before we contained her in our row she had one last thing to 
Magnolia ruled on the airplane. say/shout.
M: "You know what? Your hair is kind of messy!" And she laughed and pointed at the lady's hair!
Humiliating or hilarious? I'm trying to figure it out.
I did have a little talk about saying the right things to people when you notice things about them. That conversation totally confused our two-and-a-half-year-old, so I wish I had just left the situation alone. Luckily, the hair comment was made in the final thirty minutes of a seven-hour trip. And, the woman's hair was pretty messy. Maggie tells us all the time when our hair is messy and we all laugh. So I think we're in a new phase of parenting: the phase where our child might be cute and friendly, but also could occasionally be rude and forward and embarrassing. Either way, she ruled on the airplane. She only said she wanted to get off two times. And she wore her seat belt. And she fell asleep in my arms before we landed.
©2007 Mates of State and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Kori Gardner is the organ-playing half of the band Mates of State; her husband, Jason Hammel, plays drums. Known for their vocal harmonies and euphoric melodies, Mates of State has been described by critics as "unabashed joy", "honesty at its best", a "two piece with balls", and "a band that you must see live." Their daughter, Magnolia, was born in 2004 and started touring with the band at 10 weeks. Hear their latest album, Bring it Back, at www.matesofstate.com. |
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Magnolia magically transforms into "friendly airport kid."
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