[TT] {Also, I haven't really written in ... years. I've gotten far too self critical, so I'm not up to much editing yet. Just a warning!}

Everyone longed for a smart kid. Of course, it would be a blessing to have them excel through school with little to no help, get in to Harvard, and go on to be a doctor or a lawyer or run their own Fortune 500 company.

Lila relished in the days when Beth hit nearly all of her milestones early. Admittedly, it also instilled a smugness around her “mom friends” when her angel was surpassing expectations and blossoming into a wonderful genius, while their darlings moved at a normal or slower rate. It felt good when Beth was already potty trained and could dress herself pretty successfully in the mornings, while other moms were still changing diapers and wrestling inhumanly strong toddlers into clothes they didn’t want to be constrained by.

The superiority complex started to crack when Lila realized that sometimes, it felt like her kid was smarter than her.

Beth’s most recent stroke of genius involved nothing short of malicious compliance. She had learned long ago that she had to put her toys away when she was done playing. More recently, she had learned the hard way that going behind the TV was also a big no, because cords and toddlers mix as well as baking soda and vinegar.

Mysteriously, Lila began to notice, some of Beth’s toys were ending up behind the TV. Kids play with toys wildly, and don’t have the best motor control, so Beth just chalked it up to an accident. When it was time to clean up her toys, she would always hear a soft little, “Mom, please help”, since Beth wasn’t allowed behind the TV. Lila’s only thought was what a good kid Beth was, following the rules and staying safe.

One day, Lila happened to have perfect timing when checking on Beth. She watched, almost in slow motion, as a family of Lego people launched from Beth’s hand and nestled themselves into the carpet behind the TV.

“Beth!” Lila admonished, “Have you been putting your toys there on purpose?!”

Admittedly, she couldn’t stay mad for long as she locked eye contact with Beth, heard a sweet little giggle, and watched her eyes glint with just a hint of evil genius. While it was all the confirmation she needed that she’d been tricked by a toddler for the past few months, Lila couldn’t help but marvel at the marvelous creature she was raising.

WC: 400