Our Little Runaway

Today was a first for us.  Addie should have had a great day today but it all started with the late night before.  We let Addie stay up later than normal to watch Tron 3D with Devin since she has been dying to watch it and it is about to be removed from the cable movie list.  We should have known it might make for a rough day when we had to pry her out of bed this morning for school.  So fast forward to this afternoon.  We went to McDonald's for lunch after school which was also a request of Addie's and I was feeling nice because it was a beautiful 70 degree day on February 29th.  After returning home she wanted to have Emma come over to play which I agreed was a great idea.  They played from 1 to 4:30 nonstop.  When it was time to walk Emma home Addie began to get grumpy because she wanted to continue playing but it was time to start dinner and Devin was going to take them for a walk.  Addie repeatedly ignored us and upon returning home she was told to go to her room.  Devin then took the two little ones for a walk.  Addie at this point was infuriated with us because she didn't get her way and now Devin went on a walk without her.  As I was preparing dinner she came downstairs with her bags packed and she asked if I would like her to runaway.  I answered her with no but if it would make her happy she could.  She decided that she was going to hit the road.  She had her bag packed, a blanket, pillow pet, and a rain coat.  Romie clued into what was going on and immediately began to melt down.  Addie then began to cry and assured us that she would remember us always.  She then turned to Romie and said she would come back for her someday.  Poor Romie went into the closet to grab a coat and shoes because she didn't want her sister to be by herself.  It broke my heart to see how heartbroken Romie was but I continued playing Addie's little dramatic game.  After we said our goodbyes she set off down the steps onto the sidewalk.  I noticed that she was headed in the direction of the Capen's so I yelled out to her that she was not allowed to go there because Stephanie would send her on her way.  She stopped in her tracks and thought about it for awhile.  She then started crying and walked back to the front door.  I would like to think that she was sad that she had almost runaway from home but it was clear that the tears were from her committing to the running away and then having to come back because it just wasn't going to work out. She brought her stubborn self back in the house and was attacked by her distraught sister that wasn't going to let her out of her sight.  Romie was so emotionally drained  that she almost fell over asleep at the dinner table.  Addison has apologized to everyone for her antics but I will for sure not forget this episode.  Tonight bedtime was 7:30 and she is sleeping in her own bed without Mommy.  I figure if she is willing to head out on her own she can surely sleep in her own bed.  If this is what it is like with Addie at age 6 and I terrified for what the teen years will bring.