A Case of Mistaken Identity

We have a new babysitter who picks Mia up at Camp every afternoon. "C" has been on the job for just 4 days now, but already Mia likes her a lot. Still, I was taken aback this afternoon when, after C. left, Mia came into the kitchen and asked me, "Where's the new mommy?" At first, I couldn't believe my ears. I asked Mia to repeat herself and she said it again, "Where's the new mommy?"
Carefully disguising my near-horror, I gently explained to Mia that C. isn't her Mommy, she is her friend. (That's what we call babysitters around here. Friends.) Mia protested that I wasn't understanding her, "No-oo-oo-o." She then led me into her playroom, where she had lined up 3 of the family of 4 Calico Critters bunnies her Grammy gave her a couple weeks ago. "Where's the new mommy?" she reiterated. That's when it hit me - She wanted me to help her find the missing mommy bunny in her (relatively) new bunny family. I dropped everything to search high and low for that critter. She still hasn't turned up yet, but at least I am not worried that C. has replaced me in Mia's affections.


Mrs. Bunny (alias "New Mommy"), taking the family for a spin around the playroom in the Barbie convertible on a sunny day in May. (File photo)