Where the Sun Goes to Bed

At bedtime:

"Mama, where is the sun?"

"The sun has gone to bed."

"Where's its bed?"

"Halfway across the world."

"Could it be in China?"

"Maybe it could be in China."

"Someday, I would like to go to China and see where the sun goes to bed."

 

Ahem.

July 26, 2012.  You pooped in the big potty for the first time.  I don't know.  Something tells me I should record this fact.  And then not dwell on it.  : )

Monkey Spider Web

My dear Gracie.

If, as an adult, you someday find yourself in therapy, struggling to explain some quirk or compulsion you undoubtedly picked up in childhood, I beg you not to rush into blaming your parents.  Rather, first, review the entire Curious George series for clues to the root cause. 

You are a girl obsessed with "Monkey."

We can thank Monkey for better schooling you in such concepts as recycling, composting, traffic direction, swimming (and I am sure many others), than any of the living, breathing adults in your life have yet to do. 

But today, we thank Monkey for the "monkey spider web" you have built from yards of pink yarn and stuffed animals that span the hallway and cut Daddy's office off from the rest of the house.  You had been thinking about the concept of catching things in a web for days, talking about it non-stop.  Over breakfast, you fell silent, looked pensive. 

"What are you thinking about, Honey?"

"I'm thinking about how can I build a monkey spider web."

Hmm.  Simple enough.

After some materials from the closet and an hour on the step stool, your day was made:  "I finally got to play with my monkey spider web!"

Maybe Glue?

Last month your Poppa was visiting from Florida, and besides spoiling you with fishing, horseback rides, bungee jumps, golf, and one-too-many ice cream cones; while having Bar-B-Q at Overlook Farm, you had your face painted to resemble that of a puppy.  So pleased you were with your new identity (and your fifth ice cream cone of the week!) that getting into the car resulted in an epic - yet entirely ordinary - meltdown.  Hot tears streamed down your face until your cute little puppy melted, and something like Heath Ledger's legendary Joker took its place in the back seat.

"Uh-oh," I said.  "Your tears melted your puppy dog face.  All the make up is smudged.  Here:  look in the mirror."

"Oh, no!" you exclaimed.  "How we get it back on?"

"Well, we really can't, Honey.  The fair is over.  The painter went home.  Maybe you'll get your face painted again at another fair."

"But we need to get it back on.  Now!  Maybe glue?"


Oh, my sweet, creative, very logical little girl.  Yes.  Glue.  And may you always find simple, straightforward solutions for life's stickiest situations. 

Love you.

Mama

Grace in Chaos

I begin recording now.

Now being roughly two and a half years after I had intended.

No more rested nor relaxed nor steady nor sure.

Things are not now easy.  Or easier.  Or halfway to perfect.

It's chaos.

It's chaos, and yet it's now:  precious and ephemeral.

There is grace.

One need only notice. 


And so, for my Gracie, a way of noticing...