Occupational Hazard #15 --- I always feel like...somebody's watching me....

As if life isn't insane enough with my two little munchkins hanging off my arms, legs, neck, back, etc etc every step I take, now I have to deal with people who I can't see.   For awhile now, KT's had some imaginary friends join us.   We had Lee-Wun (of Caillou fame) and Tiana (my guess is as in the Princess and the Frog) and one other one that I can't remember their name...because it isn't really a word or a name.  The "friends" mostly were around while we played "tea party" or "cafe."  For some reason, KT still does not have the word restaurant in her vocabulary.  Thanks to the Imagination Movers and the Imagination Cafe, all establishments that sell food are known as "cafes" in this house.

For nearly a year, we've had the pleasure of knowing "Princess Allie."  Allie is ironic for a few reasons.   It was almost BG's name, first of all.   Secondly, she's the princess in the Dora book and video game that has been in our lives more times than I can even begin to calculate.   It's funny to me that she chose Princess Allie, but that's her girl and she's here A LOT.

I had our first parent/teacher meeting with KT's preschool teacher this week and COMPLETELY forgot to ask her teacher if Princess Allie ever shows up.   I guess the fact that her teacher didn't bring it up is a good sign.  I've asked KT if Princess Allie goes to school with her ever and have been told that she's not in her class because she goes to "anudder" school.   Then I'm reminded that she's not "FREE AND A HALF" (3 1/2) like KT.   Princess Allie is often many different ages.  More often than not, she's 5.  However, the other day, she was allowed to sit in the front with me b/c she wasn't a kid.   She was "FURTY FREE" like me.  Apparently, when you're 33, you get to sit in the front seat and never sit in the back.

Princess Allie went on a camping trip a few months ago.  My sister and her husband took KT for a 4 days to their cabin in the mountains.  It was literally the first time that she was gone for more than 24 hours.  Even when I was in the hospital with BG, I got to see her.   I wasn't sure how KT would do, but she was a rockstar (like always) and despite the fact that I nailed her too hard with Mirolax the few days prior to "camping," she was good to go (as long as they took her kiddo potty with her at all times).
That's a different hazard for a blog in the future.....

KT posing with Princess Allie at "the camping."

While they were camping, KT got VERY angry with Princess Allie a few times.   I guess she wasn't going to the potty like a big girl and since that's all KT was doing, it was on her brain.  I'm not sure if having Princess Allie with her was comfort from being away from Mommy and Daddy, or just because she's plain crazy.

A couple days ago, I was making dinner and we had a conversation about Princess Allie....

KT: "Mommy, we can't have ham for dinner because Princess Allie doesn't like it." (my guess is that KT didn't like it either and that was her attempted way out.

ME: "Well, that's what we're having for dinner, so she can take it or leave it."

KT: "Well, she's hungry, and she doesn't like that."

ME: "Well, where is her mother?  She needs to feed her before she comes over to this house.  I'm busy enough trying to feed you and your sister all of the time.  I can't worry about her too."

KT: "She just went home."

GRAND

This afternoon, we were informed that today was Princess Allie's birthday.   

ME: "How old is she?"

KT: "Furty six (36)"

ME: "I thought she was 5 the other day!"

KT: "Well, now she's 36."

ME: "OK...cool.  You're getting a bath after we eat dinner."

KT: "Princess Allie is going to take a bath with me and BG."

ME: "I don't think that our tub is big enough to fit a 1 year old, a 3 1/2 year old and a 36 year old.  Besides, that's just creepy.   Kids don't take baths with 36 year olds."

KT: "Oh, Princess Allie isn't 36.   I mean, she's 3."

During dinner.....

KT: "Princess Allie is coming over soon."

ME: "She is?"

KT: "Yes, she has to eat supper at her house first."

ME: "I'm glad that her mother fed her this time."

KT: "Excuse me, I have to go let her in.  She's here."  (She got up from the table and walked to the front door).   "Come in, Allie.  Let me get the door for you."  Then she mumbled a bunch of stuff under her breath that I couldn't understand.

ME: "What did you say?"

KT: "I was TALKING TO ALLIE."

Princess Allie was "talked about" a lot during our recent trip to VA.  She kept telling everyone that Allie was at home and didn't make the trip, but my cousin was relentless at declaring she was in attendance.   It drove KT crazy.....it was pretty funny to see her protest.  

I've had to bathe this kid/person, feed her (real food/bowls), lift her over the baby gates, take her picture, serve her pretend food, get her a place at a tea party, buckle her in the car, talk to her, put her in time out, send her home, put something on TV for her....    I guess imaginary friends are normal, but to this detail?   My sister had an imaginary friend...named "Watcha" (pronounced Watch-uh).  She grew up to be mostly normal.....  

I think I'm going to try that tomorrow....mumble a bunch of crap under my breath and then when someone asks me what I said, I'm going to say that I'm talking to my imaginary friend....  sigh....