Do you ever having trouble conveying the bigger picture?

That’s the sort of trouble I’m having with Clara and if I don’t figure out how to get the message across our house will be filled with confetti.

You see when she cuts things into teeny tiny pieces with scissors and I say, “Don’t cut things into teeny tiny pieces with scissors”, the next day – she cuts things into teeny tiny pieces with scissors.

To her credit (?) she has yet to cut the same kind of thing into teeny tiny pieces. Only once have we cut up, a bracelet, a flower, a list, a note, a picture Ivy drew or, most memorable, a nightgown that her little sister was wearing.

No matter the item or my response I get the same reaction from her every time, it goes something like this…

Me: Clara, what are all these little red things?

Clara: Oh that was just your ribbon from your chocolate.

Me: But Clara, I was going to keep the ribbon and and use it for something else.

Clara: Oh.

Me: Clara, you need to ask before you cut something up!

Clara: Sorry, Mom.

I walk off irritated and a few moments later Clara shows up with a small pitying smile on her face and a hug for me as she says,

Next time I won’t, Mom. Next time Dad gives you chocolates for Valentines day and they have a red ribbon I won’t cut it up, OK!

She gives me a hug and another smile and a look as if to say, “I don’t know why it matters so much but I’ll humor you and promise never to do it again if it makes you feel better but it’s really sad for you that you have nothing better to worry about.”

And she won’t.

I’m sure that the next time John gives me chocolates on Valentines day that are wrapped with a red ribbon she won’t cut it into pieces without asking. And the next time Jane is wearing a monkey nightgown she won’t try to cut a dress for her doll out of it.

But if the ribbon is blue and the nightgown has horses…

Confetti.