Shortly after this photo was taken Olivia spilled water on her shirt. “Mom, can you help me please. My shirt needs to come off.”

“Sure,” I said, starting with her right arm.

“I really hope this works” she said, looking into my eyes, concerned.

It hadn’t occurred to me that this might not work. As far as I was concerned this was fairly routine, the kid spills on herself almost daily. But there was a possibility, a remote possibility, that she would wear this shirt forever. My eyebrows suddenly shifted from nonchalant to determined, in a steely kind of way.

My hands worked quickly. Both arms were freed, but there was still a question of whether or not I could finish the job. Her wee ears that slightly jut out from her head, like mine do, would pose the most resistance. I was gentle but firm, I contemplated giving up, but didn’t and with a single pull, and some slight manoeuvring around those ears, she was free. I did it. I took a shirt off of our three year old without any casualties. And just like that, all’s right with the world.

Stay great!

Kate