Pavlov's child.

You remember in school how you learned about Pavlov? He was that Russian guy who trained the dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell. I have inadvertently conducted a similar experiment with my daughter. This experiment has nothing to do with bells or eating (which is kind of a big deal since this is Sophia). It has to do with my arrival home from work each day.

The kids have been staying home with Ben this summer, and I have been working my usual 40 hours at the library  (snotty comments pertaining to the amount of "work" I do at the library will not be permitted). When I get home from work, I park in the garage, thus, my appearance home is always directly proceeded by the sound of the garage opening and closing.

Sophia has now been conditioned to run to the gate and yell Mama over and over again when she hears the garage door. Although, I hate comparing my daughter to a dog salivating after some kibbles, it is an alarmingly similar process.

By the way, it is a process I have no intention of discouraging. Nothing makes you feel more loved after a day at work than to come home and be greeted by a dancing, smiling, Mama shouting, little girl.