"I Looooove Gum!"

For some time now (since before her 3rd birthday) the Girl has been asking if she could chew gum. I've always told her that she had to wait until she turned 4...until today. This afternoon I was about to pop a piece of watermelon-kiwi flavored gum (the kind made by Ice Breakers that are shaped like miniature little ice cubes) into my mouth when out of the corner of my eye, I caught the Girl staring longingly at my gum. I totally caved. She hadn't even said a word but the look on her face was so irresistible and said it all.

When I asked her if she would like to try a piece she was dumbfounded but quickly came to her senses and replied in a shriek, "Yes!" After I reiterated several times that gum is for chewing and not swallowing, I popped one of those tiny ice cubes into her mouth and a look of sheer delight crossed her face. And to see her carefully chewing it was so darn precious. She exclaimed, "I looooove gum!" After several minutes of chewing she decided that she wanted to lie down on the bed next to Baby Sister and so I told her that she had to spit her gum out in the garbage and explained to her that it is a very bad idea to go to bed with gum in your mouth as in almost all cases it ends up out of your mouth and in your hair. She was quick to comply. After a brief time on the bed she got up and requested another piece of gum. I gave her one and just moments later she lost her concentration and accidentally swallowed it. She was so upset and wanted it back. That was the end of the gum for today although I'm sure she'll wake up tomorrow asking for a piece.

She was so proud, it was the first thing she told J about when he got home from work and she also informed me that she is going to tell her teachers about it tomorrow in preschool.

She really did do a great job of chewing her gum despite how it may appear in this picture.