Intelligence? I really wonder some times.....

C and I are constantly amazed by our daughter. She seems so advanced, and maybe people constantly telling us this is going to our heads. She continues to surprise us more and more each day with just how much she can comprehend. We always find ourselves thinking how can somebody so little know so much? Well every now and then we get put back in our place, yesterday was one of those days. We had put M to bed and because we live in such a small area we have to go into our kitchen until she falls asleep. All was quiet so I went to check on her, I opened the curtain (that is her wall/door) and she was most definitely not asleep. She was sitting upright with one foot shoved through the bars of her crib playing with her toe..... Like I said some times I really wonder if we don't give her a little more credit that she deserves.

Another issue I have is why don't toddlers learn from pain. My daughter is continually climbing and falling off the coffee table, and not just little tumbles, she's really hurt herself a few times. But it never deters her. She does the same with the couch. I have been trying to teach her that she needs to sit on her bum, will she listen, no, does she know exactly what I'm asking of her, yes! She would rather get twenty concussions than listen to her mother. The truly bizarre thing of all this is that adults, just like children do this everyday. We sacrifice safety for pleasure or convenience, I couldn't tell you how many times I have burnt myself on a hot dish because I wanted my food that much faster. C has hurt himself at work many times trying to get the job done that much faster. Also we pollute our bodies with harmful substances to feel that much better. Things like cigarettes and alcohol for that temporary release, that little buzz that makes us feel a little better for the time being.

Now that I've written all of this I think I have answered my own question as to whether or not my daughter is smart or a little lacking. The answer is...yes she is quite intelligent. It is human nature to want to always feel good and accomplished in a timely fashion. For C and I this might be a few beers and a few smokes. For M this is being on the couch (which I can't blame her for being proud of, it's hard work getting onto a couch when you're only two feet tall), and making our home a mess, and trying to do everything I request of her in a day. This last one I give her every right to be proud because I'll admit I'm a fairly demanding mother and she has risen to my every challenge. She is smart, we all are, we just need our vice's no matter how dumb they seem, to get through all of our day to day challenges.