Ahem, run that past me again?
It may sound unkind but I would have to say that my mother was a health hazard. That aside, she had many worthy talents including considerable skills as a dressmaker. Inevitably, we, her children, would fall victim to the strange ritual of trying on the half made garment full of pins and tacks and bits of greaseproof paper. I would stand on the carpet with my mother crouched at my feet as I followed her instructions to turn slowly in circles, to see if the hem was level. Her actual words were incomprehensible, muffled by a mouthful of pins, pointy side inwards. This is how I learned my 'rotation whilst static' skills, assisted by advanced toe creeping, but it was a perilous existence.
We would sit of a family evening, glued to the telly, whilst my mother busied herself with some project. At some unpredictable moment she would leap from her chair and announce “oh no! I've lost my needle / pin / scissors / other lethal weapon.” I was never quite sure how to react to these proclamations. They were often accompanied by an additional command such as “don't move! or stay right where you are! or aren't you going to help! or it could be anywhere!' I suspected that she kept a catapault in her pocket for maximum carnage.
Quite often I find that it is little pokes from the past that help me remember how different a child's perspective can be from an adult’s.
These days, I am very much aware that dangerous 'triggers' lurk around every corner for the unwary but I never know what form the latest edition will take.
My son and daughter enjoy the latest craze, Webkinz, just like their forebears of Gonks, Trolls and my pukey little ponies. It’s a phase and a culmination of painfully acquired skills:- do your chores, earn your pocket money, save it for three weeks and a Webkinz can be yours for the squandering.
My youngest son is less keen, interested, willing to be wooed but cautious.
“I am be figured,” he bellows at my elbow.
“Really, um…..why…….what have you figured dear?”
“I am be figured it out! Dat is a figure of speech.”
“Indeed it is.”
“Do you like figures of speech?”
“No but I be figured it out anyways.”
“What have you figured out.”
“Dat dey are not cacti.”
“What isn't a cactus?”
“Cacti! Cacti! Cacti! It be double, it be Latins.”
“Ah……so who are not cacti?” I am already out of my depth and mired several yards into the bog.
“Porcupines.”
“Yes, porcupines are animals not plants.”
“Dey are spikey. Hedgehogs is spikey too.”
“Yes they are. They're both spikey and they're both animals.”
“Mammals!”
“Oh dear, yes they are.” I'm stuck, up to my neck in it and sinking fast.
“But dey are not cacti.”
“So true, so true.”
“So I am bin touch dem. I am be brave.”
“What are you going to touch?”
“Dah Webkinz which are not real spikes.”
May 29th, 2008 at 2:21 am
This made me laugh! Not only because of the cuteness of the Webkinz dilemma, but also because my mom was very similar with the sewing. Brought back great images.
My daughter, who does not have special needs (just give her everything she asks for like a typical princess) is very literal minded also. SO when we joke with her she gets a very serious look on her face and then after a few seconds will ask, “Are you joking?” The look cracks me up every time. Kids are just so fun.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:16 am
The first house I ever bought was an estate property, where an old lady who liked to sew had lived. We learned quickly not to walk around the house without shoes on, as we found many dozens of pins and needles in the carpet, down drains, etc…..
May 29th, 2008 at 4:20 am
the kitty seems unphased by it all…
May 29th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Whew! So glad he worked out that sticky situation all by himself! LOL
May 29th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Oh that is awesome… I love these types of conversations. Very brave boy you have there.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Unlike these guys! They be much spikey.
http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/they-rounded-us-up/
May 29th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Is it sad that I knew immediately that the first picture was a webkinz tail? We’re obsessed around here; however, the newer ones are much more plush and less “spikey.”
Whatever gets um desensitized, I say! Good luck with the webkinz craze. I am demoralized to report that my children have virtual pets, and I have to take care of them during the week (they aren’t allowed on the computer except weekends). If somebody had told me a couple of years ago that I would dutifully log on and garden for a virtual hippo, I would have quietly excused myself to call the guys with white coats.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Bwahahahaha! “Pukey little ponies” cracked me up.
He be braver than I am about Webkinz.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:19 am
as the daughter of a seamstress i had to giggle in remembrance of the hazards of my own childhood.
as for the hedgehog/porcupine discussion it is a marvelous thing. i love that your son is able to verbalize how he is going from concrete thought to abstract thought. what an amazing and wonderful thing wrapped up and delivered in such a funny conversation.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Mine have, luckily, never heard of Webkins. *fingers crossed* Transformers are the ‘toy du jour’ around here. What a smart fellow to figure all that out on his own!
May 29th, 2008 at 7:03 am
your cats always look so serene, i’m waiting for a kitty freak out picture one day
May 29th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Oh those blasted Webkinz. Sigh. They make me insane.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
We have a webkinz but it’s my frog. Although little boy has been known to borrow it. They have no idea (I hope) what webkinz are… and I plan on keeping it that way as long as I can.
Sheri
May 29th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Oh i am out of touch – never heard of Webkinz!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Stunning powers of categorization—–and of course there’s Sonic.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Oh, the Webkinz. We are knee-deep in the little furry (and spiky!) creatures over here.