She's going to be an opera singer someday

You know that sound that you wish you would have the power to create, in the event that a stranger started attacking you? The sound that would alert the world around you that you need immediate help? That noise that would cause the stranger to run away in pure terror, scared of what other powers you possess?

Adeleigh has more than perfected that sound. And her favorite time to practice her S.O.S. scream, without fail, is while shopping with Mom.

Yesterday, she exercised her vocal cords in the bakery section of Sam's Club. The entire town dropped what they were doing and turned away from the sampling stations they were snacking at, to hone in on the stranger that must have been abducting a small child.

Hi everyone. Yeah, everything is okay over here. It's just my daughter, mildly upset that she can't have that one M&M cookie that is tucked in the middle of the 3-foot by 4-foot 350-piece cookie tray. I promise she belongs to me.

Phaeton left the salmon sampling station to come and find us. He just followed the train of stares and scowls until he spotted us. Fortunately by then, Adeleigh had calmed down. 

Phaeton - "Oh man, that was loud! What happened?"

Me - "Oh, you know. The usual. She wanted a c-o-o-k-i-e and I offered her fruit snacks instead. You can't just buy 1 c-o-o-k-i-e here."

Phaeton - "The chef cutting the fish said that she's going to make a great opera singer someday...[We chuckled]...Want a sample of some salmon?"

She's at that age where she's learning how to manage the many emotions of toddler hood. It isn't always going to be easy for her to gauge what an appropriate reaction is, or where is an appropriate setting for such a reaction. I feel like it's our job to teach her that. Yet oftentimes, I struggle with what to do when she decides to project her operatic voice-in-training in public. I try my best to validate her feelings, to re-direct and to teach her appropriate behavior. And I know that these moments are learning opportunities for each of us. I just feel like I've got a long ways to go. And I feel like she's got some time before her toddler-insanity-scream translates into music to my ears.

So Adeleigh, in the meantime, the next time you want to go shopping, Daddy is in charge of taking you. I promise though, that I'll be there when you want to buy your prom dress.