Popping Balloons

Lotta and I have been working on figuring out how to do only two hours of screen time a day during the summer.  The challenge being, she's four and doesn't totally get the concept of time.  And then the challenge of screen time on my phone versus screen time on the computer versus television screen time.  There are just a LOT of screens with which to interact.  AND I really want a balance of utilizing these screens for fun and education and doing other creative, interactive activities.

As Zibbi was napping, Lotta finished a movie and wanted to watch a television show (a "short" one of course...)  I explained that she needed to find something else to do.  She was not happy with this idea and stormed out onto the front porch.  I wasn't sure where this was leading.  Was she running away?  Just checking for neighbors?  I went back about my business when suddenly the doorbell starting ding dong ding dong ding dong.  Right below where Zibbi was slumbering.  I was instantly momma bear furious.  Nobody wakes up my baby!

I flung the door open and started whispering furiously to cease the bell ringing.  But before I started in, I saw Lotta's face, so excited and filled with joy at finding something fun to do with her time, at being so grown up as to be ringing a door bell.  And as I began to "yell" in a whispery way, her face and entire body deflated.

She came inside, and told Ben and I that she would play in her castle.  She crawled in.  Ben and I then heard sobbing sounds.  I responded, "That sounds more like crying than playing...."  I went over and gave her a big hug, explaining how disappointing it is when you are so excited to share something and then you get in trouble instead.

We decided because it was Ben's last day of school we would make brownies together.  I want her to learn the value of chocolate now...Just kidding.  Kind of.