Wednesday, April 4th, 2007...5:55 pm
you see, dear one, friends are like pancakes…..
It was morning, a little early. Kid was at the table watercolor painting. Painting her Spongebob picture rapidly changed into just painting her toenails. Then, her toes. Then, the top of her foot. Then, the bottom of her foot. Right, left. (thank you, Ann, for “I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More“) She talked as she painted, tireless communicator that she is. She listed off who that day was her friend and who was not. Once again faced with this “private club” mentality (and a fickle one, at that), I sit.
“You know, you can have more than ONE friend at a time.”
“Huh?” she muttered, face down, painting the heel of her right foot.
“Well, one might be good to jump with, one might be good to race, one might be good to dress up with….” Silence. I take a new tact.
“You see, friends are like pancakes.”
“They ARE??” She looks up. Now I’ve got her!
“YES, pancakes! One is good, right? But a whole bunch is even better, right?”
“Yeah!”
“So, it’s like that with friends, too! And then there is the syrup. There’s brown, red, blue, all kinds (hey, I can only speak for my household), so sometimes you might want one flavor and sometimes you might want a different one. Friends are like syrup, too, like that.” Okay, I probably should have stopped at the pancakes. As she looks at me, I can see wheels turning in there. I’m feeling pretty good about myself. Teaching your child is so rewarding. How creative of me to figure out a language to get through to her! We’re connecting! How great! I need to hear her speak out on this new-found wisdom in her own words.
“So….what do you think??” My pulse quickens. She puts down her paint brush.
“Mommy?”
“Yes….??”
“I want PANCAKES for breakfast!”
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8 Comments
April 4th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I love it! This totally typifies parenting in all its joys and surprises… isn’t it great?!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:28 am
And such an emotional rollercoaster (for me)!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Do you ever feel like life with kids is one big “The Sunday Funnies” cartoon time — in large print and color, of course!! During my “married with children” life, if I only had stopped to write down all the marvelous times when the kids said the darnedest things, I could have a hearty laugh-a-day the rest of my life. Treasure these moments, including all of the roller coaster rides!
April 5th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Did Erma Baumbach write this? This is awesome.
April 6th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Hey- did you know that this blog is up for “Best new blog” at http://www.thebestofblogs.com/ (you probably do, but just in case…)? I just voted for you there!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Thank you for your vote! I better round up a few more! Oh, but really it’s just an honor to be nominated……..
Thanks for the reminder, Jenny! Spread the word! Or vote again (if you’re allowed?!)!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Hey, Dawn, you KNOW I loved Erma, so thank you for such high praise! And it was all true, all true.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Great Post! Great analogy. I’ve had a hard time explaining that concept as well. Gotta love when our best Mommy moments go right over their heads! Also, I like your blog title… can totally relate!!
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