I have been blessed with three beautiful daughters, Kaydence, 5, Harmony, 2 and our latest addition, one month old Tenley. I've been living away from them in Kitimat nearly three weeks now and the one thing I miss most about home, the chaos.
When I took the editor job for the summer, I looked forward to arriving home after work and not having to clean up messes, break up fights, and some peace and quiet. However, I find myself having withdrawal from the typical anarchy involving Kaydence and Harmony ransacking the house and leaving a trail of toys, crafts, and food wrappers in their wake.
My eldest Kaydence turned the big 5 years old last Friday, prompting me to return home to Williams Lake for the weekend festivities.The latest chapter in the Kaydence and Harmony saga has been brewing over a plastic toy that we just can't muster the courage to toss in the trash.
While shopping with grandma at a candy store, Kaydence had her eye on a Hello Kitty miniature fan full of candy. As is typical of my kids, they pick the most expensive item in the store, 12 bucks for this darn thing. Being the son of two school teachers, I would have told her not a chance but Grandma bought it. Little did I know this Hello Kitty fan would leave such a lasting legacy on my daughters. The last three days has been an ongoing game of cat and mouse between the girls who can be in possession of the fan. In the eyes of a five and two-year-old its like the quest for the holy grail.
Harmony will patiently wait for Kaydence to stop playing with it before swooping in for her turn. When Kaydence notices Harmony playing with her toy the battle ensues. Being a little older and stronger she rips the fan from her sister. Harmony then proceeds to jump up and down on two feet screaming, her face goes bright red, and she tries to speak but is too distraught to get any words out and nearly passes out from anger.
Harmony, although a few months shy of 3, has been punching above her weight-class against her teasing older sister since she can remember. Much like Hulk Hogan had his signature leg drop in his WWF heyday, Harmony has her signature manoeuvre, the death grip hair pull.
The hair pull has been known to get Harmony her way and when confronted by mom and asked is she pulled her sisters hair she makes no bones about it. Instead of making an elaborate story or lie like most kids might do to avoid punishment, she matter-of-factly says yes. No remorse, just the attitude of damn rights I did and I'll do it again next time.
I just got off the telephone with my wife today and all I could hear was crying and screaming on the receiver. "What's going on?," I asked. Sure enough, the girls couldn't figure out how to take turns and share the Hello Kitty fan so mom had to hide it in her bedroom.
Both girls were pounding away on the bedroom door during our entire conversation hoping their persistent tears and screaming might lead to a moment of weakness. My wife and I complain how the kids affect our social life but I couldn't ask for better entertainment than what they provide.