Imitation is the sincerest...blah, blah, blah

When I was younger.... so much younger than today (sorry, couldn't help myself. I’ve been listening to The Beatles a lot since Little P has 'discovered' them).

Anyway, way back in the day, I had a young lady who copied just about everything I did.

How I wore my hair. What shoes I bought. How I styled my clothes (which, back then, wasn't a lot since I spent most of my time either bartending, at the beach or sleeping). She even copied what I drank when I was out. It was bordering on the creepiness from 'Single White Female'. It never got to the point where I had to defend myself from a knife wielding crazy lady, but it definitely freaked me out a little.

These days, my mimic is about 32 inches tall and calls me 'Mommy'.

 

Little P strutting her stuff

As you know, Little P has always had a thing for shoes, but lately she has taken to putting on a pair of my shoes (particularly my black peep toe pumps - she's nothing, if not on trend), grabbing her bag, waving bye and telling us she's 'got to work now'. It's incredibly cute and a little terrifying at the same time (do I look like I'm wearing nothing but a t-shirt, diaper and have wicked bed hair when I leave for work? Dear Lord).

The other morning, I woke her up to get ready for school, and asked her what she wanted to wear. She looked at me, got down, grabbed some pants, a shirt and then opened up her wardrobe and pointed at a polka dotted cardigan. I didn't think anything of it till I was brushing her hair and I looked in the mirror and realized I had a polka dotted cardigan on as well.

Me and Little P ready for work
(I managed to get my peep toes back.
At least, for now)

Now, there are worse things than dressing like me that Little P could be doing. Insisting on running around naked at school comes to mind (saw that one last week). Or wearing her underwear on her head (seen that one too), but it does make me wonder if I am a good the right role model for her.

Especially after a recent episode at school.

Because I'm working now, my mornings are spent getting 'work' ready (makeup, hair, etc.) and Little P is usually in the bathroom watching me. I know she's paying attention as I recently received a call from her teacher, informing me that she had painted her face, and that they didn't want to scrub too hard to get it off, so just don't be alarmed when I get there. It's non-toxic and would come off easily at bath time.

I didn't think anything of it till I picked her up and saw her face. She was orange!!! Apparently, she had taken her paint brush, smothered it with orange paint and had gone to town on her face. When I looked at her and how proud she was of her handiwork ("Look Mommy. I paint my face!"), I realized that she was just being me - I put my foundation on using a brush - Little P was simply copying what she had seen me do.

I don't think there's anything wrong with her wanting to be like her Momma, and at the grand old age of 2, I have no doubt she will soon find someone or something else to focus her attention on before too long (Minnie Mouse and the Disney Princesses come to mind). So, while I'm still 'no. 1' in her world, I think I'll take this new phase in stride.

Who knows, maybe one day I can raid her wardrobe and borrow her shoes.

Till next time,

K