Good Night Moon Meltdown

While reading Amelia a book last week (I think it was Wednesday evening), Daddy veered off-text and used one of the lines from Good Night Moon, probably "and a bowl full of mush" which, for some reason, is just fun to say. Well, Amelia took immediate notice, bright little girl that she is, and insisted on getting down and going to find the book. Well, it couldn't be found and the crying started. So Mommy started looking and then Daddy started looking. Mommy went to her car and to Daddy's. The neighbors could hear the wailing at this point. Still no book. Meanwhile, Daddy tried distractions, which worked for a moment or two, and we somehow managed to get through supper. She was still distraught and Mommy suddenly remembered that it was in the stroller because Amelia had read it to herself during a walk the previous evening. It had been left in the stroller since Amelia likes to walk up the stairs and that requires Mommy holding both of her hands, so no one has a hand left over for sippy cups, books or toys.

I brought the prized book up the stairs and noticed that she was waiting patiently and expectantly on the other side of the door, perhaps even saying a toddler prayer for the return of both her book and her mother, so I passed it to her through the cat door and the look of pure delight on her face was just precious. You would think the heavens had opened up and all the stars had aligned themselves - Amelia was soooo visibly relieved and pleased! She went running to Daddy with it and all was well again. Her entire disposition was returned to its normally scheduled programming and we were all relieved - although the parents were a little disturbed that a reference to something should elicit such a vivid and long-lasting reaction!

So fast forward to Friday evening when we're at a friend's graduation party. Amelia is walking into the living room for the umpteenth time and everyone around has really enjoyed how entertaining and friendly she is. Well, another family arrived and their teenaged son was camped out on the sofa in the living room. Someone says, "Oh, look, Amelia's going to see Thomas!" I held my breath as my head screamed Why couldn't his name be Dylan, Caleb or any other of the thousands of names out there?!?!?! I was gauging Amelia's reaction because I envisioned her looking for Thomas the Tank Engine and having yet another meltdown. My quick mental scan of our vehicle's contents did not turn up any Thomas toys or books and we were in a baby-free house. Yikes!!! Fortunately, she did not hear the statement and no one repeated it. *whew* (She also didn't walk over to him so that probably helped avoid any Thomas confusion.)