The Bowl of Chocolate Chips and the Too-Tall Toddler

The kids were playing in our open concept kitchen/dining room/living room when I started to bake chocolate chip cookies.

My son sat at the table with his cup of orange juice, knowing that making chocolate chip cookies also means eating some chocolate chips.  He waited patiently.  His sister, now 2, wandered around at my feet.  They were happy.  I was happy.

I gathered my ingredients and set, as I always do, a bowl of chocolate chips aside on the counter.  A few would go to the kids and the rest in the cookies.

I measured ingredients and added them to the mixer.  Meanwhile, my son was asking for his chocolate chips.  I urged him to wait just another minute until I was ready so that he could help me put them in, and sneak some for himself.

The girl was quiet, now sitting on the stool near my feet that she had stood on earlier to help me bake muffins.

I continued.

My son asked again for some chocolate chips.  I promised him they would come, but now as I was cracking an egg and my hands were a mess, I needed another minute.

The girl remained on the stool.

Finally, my son asked again, wondering why the delay since usually I give him a couple chocolate chips while I bake.

The girl stood from the stool and proclaimed ‘HERE YOU GO! CHOCOLATE!’ holding up in her hands the small bowl of chocolate chips that WERE on the counter.

She had grabbed them, minutes ago from the counter, quietly, without spilling a single one and was enjoying them on her stool with her back to me.

The whole time her brother was waiting patiently and asking politely for his chocolate chips.

She, my friends, is going to be trouble.