Everything is a race with Rob Manna.  Going to the kitchen?   Getting to the car?  Walking to the bathroom?  Someone has to win.  And usually it’s Robbie.  This morning, Justin and I were both leaving at the same time and planning to stop at The Daily Grind, him for coffee and me for a smoothie (coffee just doesn’t taste good anymore, which is a little devastating).  I told Robbie to tell Justin we were going to race him there.  I stopped in the kitchen to get my keys and wallet while Robbie delivered the challenge and then planned to meet him in the garage.

I got outside just in time to see Robbie disappear down the driveway.  On his scooter.  When I asked him what he was doing, Robbie paused long enough to turn, look at me, and say, “I’m racing you to the coffee shop”, before he took off again.  The kid thought we were all racing each other.  And he was serious about beating us all there – never mind that The Daily Grind is a mile away and would require crossing three major intersections.

He wasn’t sure about going all alone, though.  This pregnancy has exhausted me, and I wasn’t about to try to chase down my child on foot.  So, I hopped in the car to get him and the poor child came flying back, thinking I had left him.  He rushed into the car, afraid that Justin would realize we had already left and actually beat us there.  I’m not sure whether Robbie taking every competition so seriously is a good thing or not.  But, if it gets him dressed and out the door without tears or yelling on anyone’s part, I’m not sure it’s a bad way to go.