good memories. She was explaining how really "wierd" it was that parents told their kids big lies (more like......fibs...... really) like the one about the Easter Bunny. "How, exactly, do parents think that helps their kids?" "Well.......(this required some fast thinking on my part), it's just to help their imagination develop....really...um....you know how important THAT is....ummmm, and it's a fun story .....don't you think?" (she rolls her eyes....)OKAY, OKAY, so it's not alright to deceive kids about a silly thing that detracts from the real meaning of Easter. "But you did like having "special powers" now didn't you?!"
When the Daughter #1 was small we had a car, ......of sorts......that was one of those "compact" cars. Everything was within easy reach, you could shift gears turn on the wipers, and signal without moving more than an inch or two, this was WAY before the day of buttons on the steering wheel....but even better than that was being able to turn on the interior lights without taking your hands off the wheel.....(just streeeeeetch out your ring finger and push the button!). This provided us with a little family fun.
We'd say to Daugher #1, "Boy it's getting dark and I can't see where the pedals are, can you turn on the light sweetie?" at which time she'd say in her MOST
magical voice "BIBBITY BOBBITY BOO" and presto!, the overhead light would come on. She would continue doing whatever she was doing as though she hadn't just "made magic" without trying.It worked so well that when Daughter #2 came along we taught her to use "magic" too, the problem came when Daughter #3 got to about the age of 5.1 and we bought a car with an interior light switch that was not only farther than a pinkie stretch, but ALSO made a clicking noise (DARN!....hadn't considered that when we were haggling for price).
After the first "BIBBITY BOBBITY BOO" (and forthcoming mad scramble to distract her while we looked for the button......
"Say it clearer honey, say it louder sweetheart....") she looked at us with a funny look on her face and said "Is that DADDY doing it?"
"Why.....um.....no honey, why would you say that?"
"Because I heard a click, and Daddy was reaching for something....(extremely short pause)....'bibbitybobbityboo!"
A very surprised and very NOT READY daddy had to quickly turn off the light while coughing to cover the "click". Daughter number #3 was a little too smart for her own good....she lost her "powers" that night ......
"Mommy why can't I turn on the light anymore?"
"Because you're five"
"I was five last week!"
"I don't think the people in charge of magical powers remembered till today"
"I hate growing up! Life is going to be hard!"
2 comments:
Daughter #3! Too sweet, poor thing! Life is going to be hard. But maybe that's why we parents like to suger-coat it for our kids with tales of "magic" car lights, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Plus it helps those of us adults living in the real(ly hard) world remember back to a time when we too could fly and follow tracks of a giant egg-laying hare to sweet treats. So yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus. If only to make parents feel better about their lives for a moment as they watch the wonder on their children's faces :) Great post.
Magic! I love it and I STILL believe in it! Aren't your kids happier for having shared it with you? I betting on magic.
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