Invasion of the Pod Children

I feel like I’ve just emerged from the Twilight Zone. Little Zo Peep’s behavior this morning was AWESOME. If you’ve read prior posts you know that Zo Peep is NOT a morning person. Every morning I have to deal with a cranky, surly 5 year old. Today I was left scratching my head and muttering, “Who is this child and what did you do with my daughter?”

Zo Peep woke up a little before 7am. She came into my room where I was finishing up some work on the computer and ran over to give me a big hug and smile. She asked me (politely) if I would go to her room with her while she got dressed.

Getting dressed is always a major morning battle ground. Left to her own devices, Zo Peep would wear “boys’ clothes” every single day. Boys’ clothes consist of baggy shirts (ideally sports jerseys), baggy jeans or sweatpants, and high top sneakers. This preference started when she was 3. For over a year I struggled to ever get her into a dress or skirt. The photo on the right shows my quintessential Zo Peep Tomboy taken when she was 3 1/2 years old.

To add some diversity to her wardrobe, I proposed a rule when she was 4. It began with the start of preschool last year and has continued since then. The rule states that Zo Peep can pick her school clothes 2x each week, Mommy can pick 2x a week and Kristen our babysitter gets to pick 1x each week. On the weekend Zo Peep can wear anything she wants to – except for church where Mommy rules again.

Zo Peep begrudgingly accepts this rule, but complains about my choices and Kristen’s choices the entire time she is getting dressed.

Today was her day to pick – so I expected the usual wardrobe selections of a scruffy pair of jeans and a t-shirt. But – miracles of miracles – she picked a dress!!! And patterned tights!!! And Mary Janes!!!

Next, Zo Peep was pleasant at breakfast and ate everything put in front of her. She said “Please” and “Thank you” throughout breakfast. Afterwards, she let me comb and brush her hair without complaining that I was hurting her. Later she brushed her teeth thoroughly and didn't give me any back talk about it.

When I selected her church coat, gloves and a beret for her before we left (BTW 10 minutes earlier than usual), she put them on and politely asked for some help buttoning the top button.

I dropped her off at school and she gave me a big hug and kiss. How Very Strange.

It wasn’t until I was 2 blocks away from her school that I finally figured out what was going on.

Last night at bedtime I read 2 Christmas books and mentioned how in ONE week it would be Christmas Eve. Right before I switched off the light, Zo Peep asked, “Do you think I’m going to get coal for Christmas?” I told her that I didn’t know, and reminded her that Santa told her that she needed to be extra good in December. I asked her if she thought she did that. She didn’t answer.

That little bugger!! Her good behavior this morning was related to last night's conversation.

Little Miss Zo Peep is trying to pull out all stops to get on Santa’s NICE list before Christmas arrives. I guess the good news is that I’m going to have the best behaved 5 year old on the planet for the next 7 days.

I better enjoy it.