Mind blowing convos with my son
Conversation #1:
CBC News provides a brief report about a First Nations youth who was beaten by two other youth and left for dead at the side of the road. He died.
Noah: “Why did that person die mummy?”
Me: “Uh… um - err - well, that is a big question. The short answer is that some people hurt him badly, because they were not nice people, and he died. The long answer is… (darn why did I get into this) there are people who are called First Nations, because they were here first, and some other people seem to think it is okay to beat them up. But it’s not. (My native heritage cringes at this explanation. Must research possible answers.)
Noah: That is why superheros put bad guys in jail. Unless they cut their heads off, then they can’t go to jail.
Um… ok. Not touching that one. Conversation #2:
Me: Blah blah blah birds migrate south in the winter, explain migrations.
Noah: Why do they go south?
Me: Because it’s too cold for them here. They don’t have winter coats.
Noah: They should go to the store and get some.
Me: They don’t have any money.
Noah: Then they should just STEAL them.
Me: (!) We don’t steal things!
Noah, with infinite patience: No mummy, the birds are going to steal them. They don’t have money. And so they just take things. It is okay if you are a bird.
(No, I haven’t broken out The Trumpet of the Swan but methinks I should.)
Happy birthday report
The party went surprisingly well. Having it at the beach was genius. (The weather held: overcast but fine.) We had a pirate party, and yes, I supplied pirate swords (they were so flimsy as to do little damage). There was arguing in the system over this but… a) I am a warrior queen. B) Noah wanted them. C) - there is no C.
We buried treasure in the sand (cheap pretend jewelry) and had the kids dig it up. We played pirate soccer (which looks like soccer, except you say ‘argh’ a lot). They walked the plank (long jump.) It was loads of fun. We only had three guests (one friend + two cousins) but that turned out to be a great amount. (Note for next year: invite everyone in the summer, ’cause they will all be away.) The party favours were their pirate hats (bandana-like ones), swords, shovels, jewelry, and “dubloons” (gold choclate coins).
We also put temporary tatoos on them. We were going to crack a coconut, but I rethought this at the last minute ’cause we didn’t have a good way to wash it off after cracking.
I had it at 10 am - noon which was also good timing for this age. We had a very, very simple menu: melon, grapes, mini-bagels, cheese, cream cheese, carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, chips, and cake. Apple and orange juice and water. The kids all picked water ’cause the bottles had sport tops. The carrot sticks were the big hit. Most of the kids didn’t even want cake, because that would mean stopping playing.
Noah was really happy. Which was pretty much the point.
Noah… is the world’s biggest joy. I don’t even know what to say about him at four because he’s just so much him there is no way to sum it up or write him a letter, at least not today. This will sound ultimately corny but I feel privileged to be his mum. He also has pretty good cousins and an amazing father.
Saturday by the numbers!
Number of days to Noah’s 4th birthday party: 6.5
Number of children out of 8 who can attend: 1
Number of out of town guests coming to stay at my house: 6
Number of Ikea bookcases to be put together today: 2
Number of rooms to clean: all (have started)
Number of WEEVILS I JUST FOUND IN MY PANTRY: 8!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
Outclassed
It was Space Week at Noah’s camp last week.
Thursday night he would. not. sleep. So I was doing the gentle parent thing: “birds sleep, horses sleep, the sun is going to sleep, it’s your time to go to sleep.”
“I have to go to bed because the sun is going to bed mummy?” [note set-up]
“Yes, Noah, you do.”
*evil gleam in his eyes* “Well then I never EVER have to go to bed because the sun does not go to bed! The earth rotates on its ACCESS and that is why we don’t SEE the sun but it is NOT IN BED. It HAS NO BED!”
!
It’s a toss up between astronomer and lawyer.
He did go to bed. Why? BECAUSE I SAID SO, AND I AM HIS MOTHER.