Hanging on to Reality by a Thread

November 30, 2007

I sat down to do a craft with my girls yesterday just as Jilly, my four-year old, skipped out of the room.

Me: “Where is Jilly going?”

Belly: “Oh, to watch TV with Soup.”

Me: “Soup????”

Belly: “Yeah, it’s her imaginary friend. She has three: Soup, Spoon and Cup.”

Me: “Oh???”

Belly: “The first time I met them, I was like, ‘I’ll bake you some soup’, and Jilly said, ‘NO!’ because that was her friend, so I said, ‘OK, I won’t bake your friend’.

. . .silence. . .

Me: “Jilly’s had many imaginary friends. I don’t think you’ve ever had any.”

Belly: “Oh, I have hundreds of imaginary friends. I just don’t see them very often because they live in California. We write to each other on secret email sometimes.”

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Filed Under: Fairly Odd Kids 12 Comments

Philanthropy Thursday: ‘Tis the Season

November 29, 2007

When I hear Christians say that they want to put the “Christ” back into “Christmas”, I get it. After all, without the religious aspect of Christmas, what I am left with is that big fat guy who brings my kids lots of presents. Presents, presents, presents. Nothing chills my blood faster than hearing one of my kids whine, “I want this!!!” while holding up a toy catalog.

But, here is the rub: we aren’t Christians. And while I make sure my kids hear the story of Jesus’ birth, it isn’t the focus of our holiday. For us, the focus of the holiday is about family–our family and those families around us. We have all sorts of silly traditions that we do in our home and have added one “unsilly” one this year: we have adopted a family.

If you type “adopt a family” into Google, you will see a long list of organizations that promote this concept at the holidays. What we did was to email a friend who works for a local battered women’s organization. This organization provides shelter to women and their children who are trying to escape an abuser. Many of these women leave their homes suddenly with only the clothes on their back and their children by their sides. The holidays must seem so strange and lonely for someone who is in hiding and trying to begin a new life with no money, no possessions.

“Our” family is a mom with two girls. All we know about them is their age and their modest wish list. Reading their wish list makes me want to cry. There is no mention of ipod or wii or High School Musical. There are only ‘practical’ items along with one doll request from each girl. One doll; that is all.

So, while we will continue to stuff dollar bills into the ringing Salvation Army worker’s metal bucket and will drop off games for Toys for Tots, we will also begin shopping for a very special family we will never meet. Wrapped up in those boxes and stuffed into those gift bags will be our love and hope that the next Christmas will find them in their own home, with a Christmas tree, colored lights and freedom from fear and want.

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Filed Under: The Outside World 10 Comments

Future Mensa Members

November 28, 2007

My poor sister-in-law aged about twenty-five years during her visit over the Thanksgiving holiday. Here was a typical exchange between her and Jilly, my four-year old:

“Hey, Grammy, come here and look!”

“Jilly, I’m not Grammy! I’m Auntie N. . .”

(puzzled silence)

“OK, Grammy, but come here and look!”

Things improved as the week wore on until Jilly was simply calling her, “Auntie Grammy”. Now this would all be understandable if Jilly had never met her Aunt or her Grammy, but N was here in March (for Jilly’s birthday!) and Grammy was here in September, and we talk of them all the time.

The kicker was when we were out walking after Thanksgiving dinner. Jilly picked up a leaf, handed it to N and said, “Bring this to Pop-Pop”. I looked at N and added, “Yes, bring it back to Pop-Pop, your dear sweet husband”. Now, if we ever get Grammy and N in the same room, Jilly will be mighty confused.

On a similar note, D, our three-year old son, is having a hard time understanding that Halloween is over. D is what I would call the “strong and silent type”. A speech therapist would call him “delayed”. But, nevertheless, he has been making great strides in his talking, and we are thrilled every time he says something new.

So, when D announced “Happy Halloween!” the day after the holiday, we were thrilled. “YES! Happy Halloween to you too, Mr. Multiple Syllable Words!”.

Maybe we were too enthusiastic because we are still toasting to Halloween. Thanksgiving? “Happy Halloween!” Decorating the Christmas tree? “Happy Halloween!” We may even be hearing it at Fourth of July. This all from the little boy who was crying before he made it to the first house on the night of trick-or-treating because the decorations were too scary.

Makes you feel good that I’m responsible for shaping three young minds for the next generation, doesn’t it?

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Filed Under: Fairly Odd Kids, Fairly Odd Me, Family n Friends 7 Comments
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