Kate couldn't wait to go to the 4th birthday party of her best school pal, Maya. The morning of the party she woke up at 6:30 AM, rushed to my bedside and asked, "Can we go to Maya's party now??" It was a "princess party," and Kate donned her fanciest-froofiest gown. Maya's 7-year old sister, Bella (in yellow), invited several of her friends, but Kate was Maya's sole guest of honor.
Maya (covering her face with the Red Sox shirt in the pic), didn't seem to like all the intense focus on her. After I took the shot, Bella said she'd "tell Mom" if Maya didn't uncover her face for me. Maya started to cry. And ended up crying several more times that afternoon.
The girls decorated crowns. Kate showing off hers.
Fun in the tent.
"Watch me!" "Now watch
me!"
A highlight was when they busted out the silly string and sprayed each other. Kate wasn't sure if she loved it or not, but she definitely enjoyed Maya's father pretending to be a monster and chasing them around the backyard. Running and screaming -- always a party favorite.
Shortly after this shot was taken, everyone had lunch, and the party went south. Kate is a natural-born mimic and since she idolizes Maya, she has been imitating everything about her recently -- her clothes, speech, mannerisms, eating habits -- much to our chagrin.
Unfortunately, Maya doesn't always appreciate it either (no matter how loving the intention behind it). Maya told Kate to "stop copying" her several times at the lunch table, but Kate didn't seem to get it and continued to laugh and joke. I knew that Kate was mimicking Maya to forge a bond with her and tried to explain that to Maya, but Maya repeated that she didn't like it. So I told Kate to stop. By this time all the big girls were staring at Kate, mortifying her. Kate was crushed.
For the rest of the party, Kate pouted or played on the swings by herself, not wanting to go near Maya, but not wanting to go home either. "Maya hurt my feelings really bad, Mom!" Towards the end, I finally convinced Kate to approach Maya again. Kate saw that Maya had little stickers on her cheeks, and put one on her nose to make Maya laugh. "Look, Maya!" Maya glowered at her and snapped, "That's not funny, Kate." Oy. Now I was going to lose it. To head off another downward spiral, I said, "It's okay, Kate, I think it's funny" and distracted her by announcing that it was almost time for the pinata, after which we'd be leaving. All the girls squealed and chanted, "pinata! pinata!" including Kate, who seemed no worse for wear.
After a few whacks at the pinata (Kate's "favorite" part of the party) then watching Maya hit herself with the stick and cry, it was high time to go home. The mimic that Kate is, she started crying just like Maya on the way to the car.
Fun.
As soon as we got home, Kate was fine, dancing around in her dress-up shoes and telling Appa about the party. "Maya was mean to me! She hurt my feelings! I got a slinky and a lipstick!" Of course, she quickly forgot all about it, and the next day, was best friends with Maya again.
Kate couldn't wait to go to the 4th birthday party of her best school pal, Maya. The morning of the party she woke up at 6:30 AM, rushed to my bedside and asked, "Can we go to Maya's party now??" It was a "princess party," and Kate donned her fanciest-froofiest gown. Maya's 7-year old sister, Bella (in yellow), invited several of her friends, but Kate was Maya's sole guest of honor.
Maya (covering her face with the Red Sox shirt in the pic), didn't seem to like all the intense focus on her. After I took the shot, Bella said she'd "tell Mom" if Maya didn't uncover her face for me. Maya started to cry. And ended up crying several more times that afternoon.
The girls decorated crowns. Kate showing off hers.
Fun in the tent.
"Watch me!" "Now watch me!"
A highlight was when they busted out the silly string and sprayed each other. Kate wasn't sure if she loved it or not, but she definitely enjoyed Maya's father pretending to be a monster and chasing them around the backyard. Running and screaming -- always a party favorite.
Shortly after this shot was taken, everyone had lunch, and the party went south. Kate is a natural-born mimic and since she idolizes Maya, she has been imitating everything about her recently -- her clothes, speech, mannerisms, eating habits -- much to our chagrin.
Unfortunately, Maya doesn't always appreciate it either (no matter how loving the intention behind it). Maya told Kate to "stop copying" her several times at the lunch table, but Kate didn't seem to get it and continued to laugh and joke. I knew that Kate was mimicking Maya to forge a bond with her and tried to explain that to Maya, but Maya repeated that she didn't like it. So I told Kate to stop. By this time all the big girls were staring at Kate, mortifying her. Kate was crushed.
For the rest of the party, Kate pouted or played on the swings by herself, not wanting to go near Maya, but not wanting to go home either. "Maya hurt my feelings really bad, Mom!" Towards the end, I finally convinced Kate to approach Maya again. Kate saw that Maya had little stickers on her cheeks, and put one on her nose to make Maya laugh. "Look, Maya!" Maya glowered at her and snapped, "That's not funny, Kate." Oy. Now I was going to lose it. To head off another downward spiral, I said, "It's okay, Kate, I think it's funny" and distracted her by announcing that it was almost time for the pinata, after which we'd be leaving. All the girls squealed and chanted, "pinata! pinata!" including Kate, who seemed no worse for wear.
After a few whacks at the pinata (Kate's "favorite" part of the party) then watching Maya hit herself with the stick and cry, it was high time to go home. The mimic that Kate is, she started crying just like Maya on the way to the car.
Fun.
As soon as we got home, Kate was fine, dancing around in her dress-up shoes and telling Appa about the party. "Maya was mean to me! She hurt my feelings! I got a slinky and a lipstick!" Of course, she quickly forgot all about it, and the next day, was best friends with Maya again.
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