I am officially jealous of my daughter’s kindergarten teacher.  She gets my lovable, friendly, outgoing daughter 7 hours out of the day, and I get my over tired, over stimulated, crazy daughter for 4.

I am happy that Brooklyn is enjoying her time in school and is thriving under the supervision of her teacher; I just wish that I didn’t get the short end of the stick.  For once I would like to have a peaceful interaction with my daughter where she happily goes with the flow instead of insisting on opposing my every move. 

I would love to have her complete simplistic tasks like washing her hands or throwing away her lunch with the zeal that she shows at school instead of an active show of defiance and a scream. 

I would adore the opportunity to be gazed at with respect and wonder rather than screamed at, “I hate you!” for daring to suggest that she eats dinner.

I know that she acts out to me because she feels confident and securely loved.

I know that she is adjusting and testing her limits which are two essential parts of maturing.

I get it that she really doesn’t hate me and that this is a phase…it just feels like it’s lasting forever!

I am hoping that as she adjusts to school and to being away from me so much more, she will calm down and show me some of the fun loving girl she is at school.  Until then I’ll just have to hunker down and deal with the rage that is Hurricane Brooklyn hoping for calm after the storm.

Whoever knew that kindergarten could be this exhausting!