The wonders of Childhood make believe and Monday morn in Charleston

Monday Morning  it really looks and feels like fall in Charleston. Cloudy, a little cool and the leaves are vibrant.

So fall is here.

Tasha has gotten extra energy. She has discovered gymnastics, well sort of. She saw a little girl on TV flying and has now decided she will be a Gymnast. So i have been watching her fly off the sofa, through the air, and roll on the wood floors.
Needless to say her mom and I stay in prayer.

I like to remember when Denise and her siblings were little. they had imaginations that delighted me. I remember when they were about 7, 8 and 9 They all decised they were going to open an office they built desks in the basement out of boxes and each one had a desk.

Eric was the "owner" of the company and everyday for about a week they went down into the basement and "worked" I hadn't and still today haven't the faintest idea what they were working on, exactly, but they worked hard. They each sat at their desks, and talked on the phone mostly while writing stuff on paper.

Eric put on his suit and tie, the girls wore nice "work" clothes the office was quite busy.

I love imaginations  I hate the world ends up in reality and the kids have to find out life is not as it seems when you are little.

Tasha has a great imagination. She has an imaginary friend who goes everywhere with her. I like Little girl, because if I tell little girl she needs a nap then Tasha needs one to: its okay if little girl has to go first.

Today Tasha and Little girl have been singing yo Gabba Gabba songs, that hasn't been to pleasent because Little girl .I guess, sings off key, it can't be Tasha off key right?

Tasha's mom has started selling Avon and so Tasha has been delivering mail and selling AVON to me. I have received so much mail and brought so much AVON I  will own the company, Tasha's part anyway.

Isn't it sad kids have to grow up and find out life isn't perfect? Don't you wish your kids will always be as warm and safe as when you tuck them in at night?

And don't you wish they never had to learn that Reindeer don't fly, Cinderella didn't live happily ever after, and the reality of what happened to Bambi's mom?

Childhood. God says we should believe in him like a child believes, don't you wish we still could?

Childhood dramas or tramua

Denise got one of her first parental shocks this week. She found Tasha sitting on the floor among shards of sheared hair. SCissors in hand.Denise did what any strong, loving tough, fair minded, minded mom would do.

She cried.

Tash's hair is like her crowning glory. It is long, thick, soft and beautiful. The only time it is annoying iswhen you are combing it out and it has somehow gotten tangled, Then I feel like cutting it off myself.

I didn't have the heart to tell her this was just the first of many child induced tears.

For instance: The time Eric wanted to help his dad with the BBQ and threw additional fluid it on the already burning coal, and singed his eyebrows off his face.

For Instance: the time Denise and Eric decided to jump off the roof of the garage while paying, something right now I don't remember what. I just remember children flying through the air.

After picking up my heart off the floor, I went over to see them only to find them giggling.

I almost went to bed for a week.

For instance: Eric calling me from a park to tell me he was playing spotlight and was stuck in a train tunnel and was calling me to say good by. I yelled at him to get out of that tunnel or I would kill him, then jumped in my car to drive to the park only to find no one there. They went calmly back to their friends house for snack. And to discuss thie adventure, fter getting out of the tunnel. After seeing the tunnel and where he was, he almost did die that day twice, once by train and once by mom, , and I almost went to jail. After I hugged him of course.

For instance: Denise going skiing, and slipping and shattering her knee. Her dad called me described her symptoms and asked me if he should take her to the hospital. No, I said, we'll do the surgery at home. Score one for sarcasim. The interesting thing is as she was explaining to me the accident, she never actually got on skis, but was injured while putting them on, to add insult to injury, the young man trying to help her up in his concern, dropped his skies on her head making it almost comical if it hadn't been so tragic. He felt horrible, but all I could do was laugh.

When he came up to me miserably to apologize at church the following Sunday I assured him it was all right, but still giggled.Stress I guess. He finally saw the humor in his fumbling over her trying to help her up and taking her out with his skis instead. No harm done. But she survived, I hope he did. The knee still gives her some trouble even until today, but she still likes to ski.

Did you every wonder how kids survive childhood? Better yet, how do we? With a sense of humor thats how.

Angel

Childhood survivors

Can Squirrels dance?.

Natasha loves squirrels, she chases and talks to them through the window, and  while sitting on the steps outside.  

Three year old are so inquisitive. Tasha isn't any different.  She has questions about everything. 

The following conversation took place this morning:

"Nanny! There are squirrels on the stairs!" trying to open the door (thankfully its still locked)

"What are you trying to do,?" asks Nanny a little distracted trying to unstop the sink.

"Let them in so I can play with them,"

Nanny is no longer distracted.

"Squirrels like outside, honey. You can watch them from the door."

"But I want them to come in and play with me,"

We really need to get her a pet. 

"Squirrels like outside, Tasha. He would be very scared in here."

Of course by now the topic of this conversation has flown the coop or er the stairs.so the conversation is now irrelevant but as in the makeup of all three year old it continues. 

"I would have made him feel safe, Nanny. He would have been happy in here."

And so, I continue and explain why squirrels and squirrels families prefer out side to inside.

I think she understands. But maybe not all, she has what I call her thoughtful Tasha look, it means she listened, it also means she will be back. 

I wonder if the little squirrel went home and asked his mother if he could play with the little girl?

"She could play in the  tree mom, I won't let her fall."

Kids are the same everywhere, are they the same in the animal kingdom to? 

It is funny the questions kids ask, things I never in the world would have thought of. It would be natural as anything for Tasha to want to play with the squirrel, she has no sense of danger, rabies, being bitten or anything we adults have learned to be wary of. 

It is sad that they have to learn that the world is not safe. I don't remember, growing up in California , ever being scared. But that was years ago. It was safe to play in my front yard and not worry about someone stealing me. It was safe for my grandmother to let me walk home and stay until she got off work. It was safe for me to walk everywhere and and talk to friends and strangers alike. I just never thought of it, nor did any of the grownups around me.

Of course we are talking about Palo Alto, California. Home of Stanford , Hewlett Packard and  the start of silicone Valley. Everyone I knew worked for either the university, HP/ IBM or the hospital (Stanford Medical Center) It indeed was a different world. 

 I hate it that kids can't be that free any more. 

Tasha did come back, after listening to Barney and dancing around the living room she asked me, 

"Nanny, can squirels dance? Do they watch Barney and tiny TV's?

Something to ponder. how do we know they don't? :)

Random Friday

I stole this idea from a friend and fellow blogger. At first I just stole the idea, well borrowed sounds better and I kept using random titles that didn't sound so  good. So today I am just throwing all caution to the wind and using Zan's title as well as her idea. The good thing is I have known Zan since she was about 10, she grew up with my daughter as best friends and are still close. she is a sweetie, so she won't take me to court. At least I don't think so. If she does I'll tell her mom. 

She's coming to visit us in a few weeks and both Denise and I are looking very forward to it, and Miss Tasha as well. She is probably the most excited of us all to see "mommy's friend Zan.

Yesterday Charleston was pouring rain all day. We actually got 3.5 inches in one day. We had the usual errands to run, so of course we got drenched. Guess who enjoyed it? That's right Miss Natasha. We owe this vast enjoyment of water, rain and puddles to Barney, who does a program on seasons, which is good but one of the segments is on rain, where the kids are happily jumping into puddles and otherwise shown as having a grand old time. 

So of course Natasha feels that Barney, is the man or er dinosaur and she should have equal fun in the puddles. Hence she doesn't miss a one, and even when we try to stop her she finds one we have missed. Barney also didn't tell them(the kids)  that when they jump into the puddles their mom and Nanny on either side get splashed with the wonderful puddle water as well.Neither one of them are wearing boots like you are. I was thinking of boycotting Barney for a minute, but I don't think I could live without hearing at least five times a day I love you you love me....."sigh" I understand it is one of the songs they use to torture PO W's in IRAQ, it always breaks them. I sooo understand.

I visited a blog Mom it Forward that is an wonderful blog about mom's helping moms I had to join it . They are doing so much good in Africa, India, and other countries.  Well to be clear they are supporting agencies that are doing work in those areas.One of the projects they  mention is a bank giving loans to women who might otherwise not be able to get money to even feed their kids. They have several fundraisers coming up and the SITS girls are doing an auction on April 17 to support the group. If you have not visited either one of these blogs, you should. 

Today is April Third, It was Sharon's Birthday. If  you do not know who Sharon is, she is my youngest, eternally 11. She died of complications following heart surgery. Her death was a shock to our family and I find often I am still dealing with it. 

On a happier note, Zan's Sister Angela, who was Sharon's very best friend's and often her partner in crime when terrorizing the big sisters, birthday is today as well.  I have spent some of today well most of today, thinking about these two and another friend named Stephanie. Stephanie was the last one to speak with Sharon outside of the family, they were excited talking about the first day of school and making plans. Angela used to love Barbies and they would play for hours, whispering secrets, giggling. Angela was a giggler. Sharon was bossy and had to be in charge of everything. I wonder often, where she would be today. In the meantime, Angela is having wonderful  things going on in her life, she is planning on getting married in a few months and is really really happy, So Happy Birthday Angela, and many more and I want an invitation to the wedding, You hear?.

Happy Birthday Sharon, In heaven. We miss you. A  Face book friend introduced me to a camp called Comfort Zone Camp, a camp for children who have lost parents or siblings. I wish such a thing had existed then. I could barely cope with my own loss, much less theirs. But we all did cope and are still coping today. But now it is my turn to help others to cope. 

For the last ten minutes Natasha has been alternating between trying to help me type and force feeding me some "tea" she made.  Our teapot for some reason has rust around the bottom ring between the sides and the bottom. I could go to the trouble of  buying  rust o lem or something and cleaning it out, but face it: the teapot costs me 6 dollars at WalMart, I'd almost be insulted if it didn't rust. So I gave it to Tasha who has had tea parties all day with her doll, her cars, her plants the squirrels outside and of course, Barney. 

Tasha has an imaginary friend, although I know this is normal this friend keeps getting her in trouble, next time I "see" her we  will have to have a chat. 

Denise never had imaginary friends, but Sharon did. She would talk to them and busy herself happily. I don't think it is a bad thing, but I know some people do. I do know it increases their vocabulary and is a way to get the anger out, Tasha has told her friend three times this morning how upset she is with Nanny for not letting her:

A. go out side in her diaper (we went through this)

B. Not play on the computer

C. Not play on the computer.

and for good measure:

d. Not play on the computer.

I think it is a good thing she is verbalizing and I get a kick out her telling her friend and her mom on me. But it is important she does and deals with the anger.

Bad Nanny!

I am going to post this really quick and get Tasha down for a rest, she has been up since 10 minutes to six this morning, I know she is tired even though she doesn't know. But it doesn't matter, even if she isn't Nanny is.

Happy TGIF everyone.