The Little OCD Girl?

I think Rosie might be a little obsessive. And this is particularly surprising because she has absolutely no genetic link to anyone compelled to do the dishes before bedtime, put away their shoes or replace the cap on the toothpaste. Most days, we manage to do most of the dishes and tidy the house, so that we can greet the morning with a semblance of order. But some nights, we just give in to our childish impulses and go to bed. On those nights, I like to think that I value more important things - time spent with kids, substantive conversations with mate, a good book, but really I'm just lazy. That and I love to sleep. But hey, if the dust bunnies actually start hopping by themselves, I do manage to drag out the vacuum cleaner. Hopping........or if someone is coming over.

In case of visitors, I completely perplex Harper - by running around half-bent over and sweating for an hour, sniping at her for not cleaning up her stuffed cats, twenty or so, and generally being grumpy with my own mess, as if the state of my own disorder is a shocking surprise. Harp and Rosie will grow up like I did, cleaning frenetically when company's coming, grouching at your lovely life mate and wiping down the surfaces that haven't seen moisture in months. Or maybe not. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Rosie is a little OCD girl. She follows me around and closes the drawers and cupboards behind me. She won't take a bath if she senses a single hair floating among the bubbles or a piece of tree pollen blown in from the window. And several times a day, she holds up her little finger for me to examine an "eeeew" on one of her digits. I might need a magnifying glass to see the offending particle, but it's always there - a tiny hair, sliver of carrot or mini booger. She likes everything in its place and in our family this is, well........unexpected. Nature is clearly trumping nurture in our modest Oakland home.

And this from a girl who ate more carpet fibers, dirt, bugs, beads, leaves - anything within reach in her first months of hand-to-mouth coordination. I thought she was just another gross kid. But instead, she's gradually become fastidious, particular, dare I say........ clean. She refuses to sit in her high chair if a tiny piece of last night's dinner resides in her space. Refer to first paragraph to determine likeliness of crumbs from dinner in high chair. Lately her clothes have to be spotless and well fitting. I have to fold her baby's blanket just right or she yells , "NO" at me like I just threw her baby out the window. She's really quite persnickety and I don't know where it's coming from.

You have to know Rosie though: she walks by and people melt. She has an inimitable and lovely presence in the world, an ease in her countenance and her gait that draws people to her. She's magical really; she giggles at everything, dances without music, has a streak of irrepressible independence, red hair, and more charm that anyone I've ever had the pleasure to meet, much less create. So the presence of her OCD tendencies at such a young age is really just another funny charming thing that we can talk about over dinner. But they do seem to be increasing. Maybe it's just who she is, maybe a response to her chaotic dust bunny existence (it's really not that bad - I exaggerate for comedy). Not sure. I like to think it's just the way her little brain works and it's fascinating, because it's unlike my brain in almost every way. On the plus side, we could really use someone with a little OCD in our family. Maybe the dust bunnies will fear to tread when Rosie comes of age and chore charts become part of the family lexicon. Maybe she'll demand reform in the house of neglect, a new sheriff in town to fight the clutter and stuffed cat diaspora. Hell, we could use some shaping up and maybe she's just the two-year-old for the job.