being four and a half isn't always easy, and having two little sisters always bugging you can't be a cakewalk either. and so it is that Juniper often finds herself getting a little break from the action, in the form of what others call a "time out." all this really means is a chance to sit somewhere for a few moments to calm down and soothe the evil dragon within so that joyful, interactive play can continue (or she can at least refrain from drawing blood).
this weekend, on our way to Global Winter Wonderland, we tell the girls we are going to a special festival but that it's a surprise that they'll see when they get there. Clementine asks us a number of questions--will there be rides? is there food? are we getting a treat?--which we try to deflect as much as possible in order to build suspense. while we are explaining, Juniper does something mysterious to Clementine that creates a fair amount of drama and crying and Gavin gives Juniper a warning that she'd better knock it off or suffer the consequences. We think Clementine is changing the subject when she returns to the topic of what the festival will be like.
Clementine: "do they have benches there?"
Gavin and I give each other a sidelong glance.
me: "um, probably, I guess they will."
Clementine: "good. so there'll be one for Juniper to sit on."
I read this to Soren. He suggested that he and Juniper might someday simultaneously do things to their respective younger siblings and thus find themselves in a time out at the same time in different places.
ReplyDeleteA very philosophical thought!
ReplyDelete