what cleo said

It’s going well, better than expected. We make labels for sections, alphabetize, group books, do a pro job. Then she says

Cleo: we should do the bookshelf with the old picture booths.

Me: (I am master psychologist)

We do the same awesome work. She makes her own small (but meaningful) stack of books to give away.

Me: Look at this bookstore, it looks great! This is really amazing.

Cleo: I know right?

I feel proud and clever for turning a chore into a fun game as we look at the finished, organized shelves.

I’m bathing Cleo and I reached in a drawer, to get a plastic box that belonged to Cat. I accidentally broke it.

Cleo is pooping and asks me to read a book. I know this could take awhile.

At the end of bedtime routine, Cleo now says that she can tell us apart in the dark.

Cleo: “Mommy has a rounder face,” pretending to shape an imaginary melon in the air.

I was reading to Cleo while she taking a major dump. I heard her grunt.

Me: “What’s wrong? Why are your eyes wet?”

After reading stories, we turned off the lights and Cleo said that she couldn’t tell us apart in the dark.

Cleo: But I know you smell different.

Cat: Looks at me. “Really? What do I smell like?”

Cleo: “Flowers”

Me: “What about me?”

Playing before school, I tell her to pack books she wants to read.

Cat really ate her pile of yogurt fast.

She is getting really annoyed that water is getting on her face while showering the shampoo off of her head.

During bedtime, she held an iphone to her ear and pretended to be on a phonecall with her stuffed animal's "teacher".

Cleo: "The teacher has answers for everyone. Mmhmm mmhmm mmhmm. Everyone will have all the answers..."

Me: "They'll have the answers?"

I was moving potato pankcakes from the pan to a plate. A drop of warm oil hit her thumb. Thankfully, just warm. I apologized - a lot.

Months later, she brings it up again in front of strangers: "Remember when you burned me with hot oil?"

Me: "You think you'll ever forget that happened?"

Bathtime. I explain what 'toe-jam' is and why it's smelly and gross.

Cleo: "Is there booty jam too?"

Final phase at bedtime. While scratching her back and singing a song, I doze off.

Cleo: "Pause the song! Daddy, keep scratching my back!"