My parenting skills rock... oh, wait...

Ella is a little OCD. I say this not as a joke, but as a clinician who knows what she is talking about. Her latest obsession that she can not help herself about is Benjamin's seahorse. He loves his seahorse. It is like the glowworm toy that plays music and he has loved it since the moment he laid eyes on it... which was quickly followed by Ella deciding that she HAS to have it. Sweet.

Really, she is obsessed about all of his toys. Today, I had him on the playmat and she wedged herself in there with him. Fine. They were both happy and that works for me. But then the seahorse appeared to keep Benjamin happy as I made lunch. Ella "needs" it.

Me: "Maybe we should give Ben all of your toys".

Ella: "Okay".

Me: "Really? Even your farm, your dollies, your kitchen and your ponies?"

Ella: "Yes".

Me: (starting to sweat a bit) "Wow... all of that for a seahorse?"

Ella: (very serious) "Yes".

Me: "Wow, Ben, you are lucky! You get ALL of Ella's toys!"

Ella disappears and I figure she is on to bigger and better things like his Pooh teether, which she insists on getting all grimy and putting in her mouth. She comes back with her somewhat large Little People farm in tow.

Ella: "Here, Ben!"

Disappears. Comes back with a toy frying pan.

Ella: "Here, Ben! (looks at me) The whole kitchen is too heavy".

(oh my) Disappears. Comes back with large, purple plush Dora chair.

Ella: "Here, Ben!"

Now all of these things are in my kitchen, surrounding Benjamin. He is happily chewing on the seahorse and I wonder what I have done.