Can't never could

I am a guilty mom. When Sophia and I are in the car, I let her play her games on my iPhone. Sometimes she'll catch a few minutes of her videos that are loaded on there (Winnie the Pooh, Elmo, Dora, Veggie Tales...).

It's amazing how quickly kids pick up technology. A month ago she had no clue how to operate the phone. I could pick a game, start it up for her and she would be happy playing it for whatever duration of time we were in the car. Somewhere between July and August she figured out how to pick out and start her own games, end them, and start a new one, and even found her videos on her own.

I guess she forgot all of that today. As we were driving home from My Gym she asked for the green phone. I gave it to her and quickly regretted it. You see, I had found this neat, FREE iPhone puzzle app. for toddlers. She liked the free one but wanted the one that had the train and the fairies. So I forked over .99 cents to iTunes and got her the full version. It's been drama ever since.

Today she told me "I can't, I can't, I can't...Mommy, I can't do it" and then broke out in a huge crying fit. I wish I could have pulled the car over and given her a hug but it was impossible in that moment. Instead I gave her a pep talk about how "can't never could" and "you can do anything you put your mind to" and "you can be anything you dream of being". She's two. I don't know if she got that message..I hope and pray that she did. Somewhere inside my spirit broke just a little..for several reasons: 1. How does she know she CAN'T do something at the age of 2? Where did she learn this? and 2. The drama is already starting.

This little episode made me realize I have to be mindful every minute of every day of how I'm behaving. Little eyes are watching, right?