This Many

So I think I mentioned earlier that we got a new kitten, right? His name is Gary, and he's absolutely adorable. After losing Bo almost 3 years ago, things haven't been the same around here. Yes, we tried to fill Bo's spot with a Yorkie named Basel. That didn't go completely as planned. Basel was a cutey patootey, but he was way too much work for this momma of 3. I just couldn't give him the attention he needed and deserved.

I never thought John would be up for getting another cat, but it was actually his idea this time around. Of course I took him up on it. :) All 3 of our babies are animal lovers, and naturally all 3 want to help take care of Gary.
The thing is, Caroline is what I like to call my "biggest helper." And I use that term loosely. She is slightly obsessed with Gary--whom she refers to as her baby.
Uggggg
She wants to constantly carry him around, feed him, hold him, choke him...you get the picture. Gary lives in our bathroom for the most part, simply because he's still little and we want him to get used to his litter box location and other surroundings before allowing him to run free in the house.
I've tried everything. I have even resorted to using "Mr. Sad Spoon" when she can't seem to get the message any other way. We have a discussion every single morning about this:

The cat is a BABY.
He can be hurt easily if we aren't careful.
He doesn't like being picked on.
We can't over feed him or he will puke.
The tail is not for pulling.
He doesn't need help down the stairs--he's perfectly capable of making it down on his own.
The collar he wears is not for small children to use as a means to pull him around.

Caroline seems to think that if I'm on the phone, the toilet, putting on my makeup, straightening my hair, or folding laundry then it's time to go see what Gary is up to. And she assumes it's totally okay to let him out of the bathroom. Someday I pray she gets it through her thick head that it's NOT OKAY UNLESS MOMMA SAYS SO.
This morning was no different.
We were on the Gary-letting-out-agenda by 8:30am. I think I told her no less than 6 times to come back down the stairs and leave the cat alone--for the love of all that's sacred in this world!
I had to have "the talk" again, and Mr. Sad Spoon was about to make his appearance when she casually said, "But Momma, it's okay. I'm this many (at which point she held up 3 fingers--just in case I had forgotten how old she is)."
Holy jeez.
What is the momma of an adorable but oh-so-ornery princess to do?

~Mel