ImPerceptibility

Posts Tagged ‘youngest’

Sometime I wish I had a camera in my eyes. Then I could save all those funny little things that just seem to happen when you least expect it. Maybe a video camera would be nice as well. I could push my nose to snap a picture and maybe pull my ear to start videotaping. I haven’t figured out how I’m going to download or playback the images but that might be a good thing.

If this was possible I would have a video of my youngest when she was about five. She was wearing a purple velvet dress and her hair was still long and all over the place as always. She ran ahead of me and stopped in front of the automatic doors at Target. She waved her hands in circles above her head and spoke silly made up words. With a dramatic flourish she lunged forward and the door open, as if by magic, and she walked in head held high and confident.

I don’t know what was going on in her head or for how long she had been planning this. I don’t know when she figured out exactly where she needed to stand so a single large step would trigger the motion sensors. I don’t know how she ever thought up this little bit of awesomeness that I have to expect from my youngest but she did it and it was grand. Then it was over. She went about her business as if it never happened and only my mommy smile gave any indication that anything out of the ordinary had happened. I don’t think we ever even talked about it. But I decided right then and there that no matter how long I lived that was something I wanted to remember for the rest of my life. That was when I started to want eye cameras. Instead I have this and my memories. It will do for now.

Educational Anarchist Stickers and Mini-buttons

My Educational Anarchist order from Cafe Press came in the mail today. I was really excited about it. I’ve never had anything I’ve made put on a refrigerator magnet before. It felt good. Don’t you think the mini-button looks nice on my camera bag?

Midnight by Youngest

I put the magnets to good use. A picture of our dog Midnight drawn by my youngest Educational Anarchist.

Youngest and I had a nice quiet day today. She likes to walk her sister to the bus each morning. I think it’s her way of feeling she has some control over being separated from her sister. She puts her on the bus and waves goodbye then walks the few hundred feet back home, alone, pretending to be a big kid. I love watching her from the front window.

Sometimes she walks quickly and at attention. Her head up and eyes alert, scanning the bushes and trees, stopping to check out whatever has caught her attention. Other times she meanders in a serpentine path with her head tilted to the side lost in her own thoughts. Today she had an umbrella resting on her shoulder. It was tilted at an angle that made its rain blocking abilities questionable. But it wasn’t really raining, more of a light mist, so it didn’t matter. She was walking slowly and eyeing the puddles.

The first puddle was tempting but she managed to miss it. The second puddle she skimmed across the top with the tip of her shoes then hurried on. She walked through the next puddle but I could see her sites were set on the mother of all puddles. The ankle deep splasher just to the right of our driveway. That’s been a favorite for years.

She picked her path carefully. She had to end up in front of the puddle so she could splash without making it look like she meant to splash. A quick side-trip to check out the neighbors’ flowers was all it took. The puddle was in her line of sight and she was going for it.

Then she stopped, took off her shoes and went for it.

When she got to the door she left her shoes and wiped her feet.

Then she told me about a bug she’d seen and we looked it up in the field guide. She found it all on her own.

Then she practiced her spelling words. Only missed one.

She fixed her own breakfast and watched Spongbob.

We did some writing (simple sentences) and math (two-digit addition). Then she read a new book.

She went out to play with the dogs and now I’m sitting here wondering if she was pretending to be a big kid or if she really is a big kid. Does it really matter? I pretend to be a grownup all the time. Right now I’m sitting here typing this up but my bare feet are working their way to the backyard. There is a puddle back there and it’s calling my name.

Youngest was in her room playing with her Magnetics and singing softly to herself. I was cleaning up the kitchen and only half listening. Youngest is a bundle of noise, action, and commotion from the moment she wakes up until she passes out exhausted on her pillow at night. I’ve learned to accept it, ignore it, and even appreciate it. You don’t get bored when she is around, even if you’d like to. I couldn’t imagine her any other way. I wouldn’t want to.

She came out of her room and requested an audience. She had a song for me. Then with a scream unlike any I have ever heard from a sane and uninjured individual she began.

Even a flip-flop is dangerous if it gets stuck in your mouth!
Stuck in your mouth!
It’s dangerous if it gets stuck in your moooouuuth!
You might choke.
It could happen.

You’ve got no bars for the holiday
No bars for the holiday.
You’ve got no bars for the holiday
Because your cell phone got flushed down the toilet.
And you’re never gonna get it back.

You’ve got no love for the holiday
No love for the holiday
You’ve got no love for the holiday
Because you flushed your girl down the toilet
And you’re never gonna get her back.

You might as well give yourself a swirly.
Just swirly yourself right down the drain.
Ride a boogie board to the sewer.
You might find your bars
And your love
Watch out for poop (pause to see if I’m going to say anything)
And the pee (Another pause and mischievous look)
Poop and pee
Poop and pee
Poop and pee 

“Youngest!”

Even a flip-flop is dangerous if it’s stuck in your mouth!
YEEEAAAAH!

(Runs back to her room giggling)

I laughed so hard my sides hurt.