Somehow I have already failed her.

We have a few regular visitors around here in our land of make-believe. Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie come by on occasion. I am often dubbed Cinderella, along with my friends Belle, and her little sister Sleeping Beauty. Hailey has three babies who she cares for both in and out of her tummy regularly...their names are Oicee Saks, Acee Mark, and Icee. They are all twin girls. Soon she will have another baby named Sparkles. He is a boy, and he will be born with lots and lots of beautiful hair, and possibly even a hair bow.

Max and Ruby are also popular visitors in our house. In fact, I believe they were the first "imaginary" friends to join us. They're often quite helpful. For instance, if Hailey wants company in the bathroom and I am busy making lunch, she will just let Max come with her. They are also often a source of frustration. In a negotiation attempt, I will hear, "But Max's mommy lets him eat candy, so I want some candy too." Try telling a three year old that you don't care what Max's mommy lets him do because you have different rules, without feeling like a complete idiot.

Anyway, here's the conversation we had today:

Hailey: I need a check-up, Mommy. Ruby is the nurse, and Max is the doctor.

Me: What about if Max is the nurse, and Ruby is the doctor? Can we do it that way instead?

Hailey: Well... (her eyes roll back in her head a minute as she thinks it over)...then she drops the bomb...

Max is a boy, so he can be the doctor, and Ruby is a girl so she has to be the nurse. Okay? That's how it will be.

That she even thought it is horrible. That she was able to articulate her reasoning is shameful.

This is worse than The Bachelor changing his mind. This is worse than the fact that I know The Bachelor changed his mind. This is wrong on SO MANY LEVELS.

Excuse me while I go hurl, curse society, and then lie on the bathroom floor and rethink my entire parenting strategy.