The Princess of Quite-A-Lot is back from her summer-long sojourn with her father and order is restored in the kingdom…with “order” being a relative term.  A kingdom with a Queen in the new forty and a Princess of Quite-A-Lot of the age 11 is one helluva’ a kingdom.  One might argue that no moat or fire-breathing dragon are necessary as they are implied given the demographics of the royal occupants…enter at your own risk.

The Princess of Quite-A-Lot moves on to middle school this year and that move requires  some adjustments in the kingdom.  The dial on student responsibility and accountability is turned up which means that there will be growing pains experienced in the kingdom.  Growing pains that undoubtedly will involve much angst, eye-rolling and dramatic flair – the Princess of Quite-A-Lot is already well-versed in these responsive modalities.  If there were video-footage available, the Princess of Quite-A-Lot would undoubtedly have long ago been awarded a golden statuette from the Academy.

The Queen recognizes that a few things are key to maintaining order in the kingdom and the Queen’s sanity during the Princess of Quite-A-Lot’s new growth period (in addition to the Royal Therapist being on-call).  The Queen has implemented the following new rules and processes to maintain equilibrium in the kingdom:

1)  A beverage that has the effect of soothing the Queen’s nerves must always be available and at the ready for times when the Queen’s entire patience has expired.

2)  No dramatic flair will be exhibited in the kingdom past the hour of 7 PM.  It is important that the kingdom be peaceful as the evening winds down toward the royal sleep.  A kingdom where the sleep of the Queen and the Princess of Quite-A-Lot has been disrupted is not a pretty place (literally or figuratively).

3)  Head-bobbing, finger-wagging, exasperated sighs, the stare that imputes a label of stupidity,  foot-stomping, door-slamming and comments that are focused on the lack of current knowledge or hipness that the Queen possesses are banned from the kingdom.

4)  The Queen will employ meditative techniques to reflect upon meaningful solutions to dealing with the Princess of Quite- A-Lot’s growth challenges.  Counting to an indeterminate number and soothing beverages may be involved as may loud music and a bubble bath.

5)  The Princess of Quite-A-Lot will remember at all times that while she is special and her growth as a princess understood, her mother remains the Queen of Everything and the ruler of the kingdom…and when Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

And so it is in the kingdom, order is restored…and the Royal Therapist is on speed dial.

Day four hundred and seven of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C