Morbid Mommy Moment
L & M made friends with a little lizard on the sidewalk just outside of our complex. He's a great friend, very fascinating and cute, but the only drawback is...he's dead. I'm not sure what could have caused our little friend's untimely death, but I'm guessing it was pretty gruesome judging by the fact that he is indeed missing a limb. Upon first seeing the lizard, I hoped L & M would not be paying attention to every crack in the sidewalk, but as they miss nothing, seeing a lizard quickly made it to the highlight of the day.
So what's a mom to do? I didn't want them to touch him, so I quickly contrived an elaborate story about how the lizard is sleeping and we have to be very quiet to not wake him up. Maddie immediately got on her tiptoes, put her finger to her lips, and said, "Shhhhh!!" This was two days ago. I had hoped the girls would not remember where our lizard was, or he would have been taken care of by some sort of roadkill crew, but no such luck. Every time we leave the apartment, the girls request to see the lizard on the way home. Yesterday L & M even noticed his "hurt arm" (hurt being an understatement when the arm is no longer attached). And out came another elaborate story about how his mom will put a band-aid on it when he wakes up. This may be getting out of hand, but I don't quite think two year olds are ready to talk about death. So one of these days I'll discretely move him and wait for the next opportunity. In the meantime, we'll continue to talk to our sleeping friend. But L & M know one thing for sure: he is T-I-R-E-D. After what he's been through, I can't blame him. Out of all of this I'm starting to question my reaction to our little dead friend. Am I totally morbid? I'm almost afraid to ask.
So what's a mom to do? I didn't want them to touch him, so I quickly contrived an elaborate story about how the lizard is sleeping and we have to be very quiet to not wake him up. Maddie immediately got on her tiptoes, put her finger to her lips, and said, "Shhhhh!!" This was two days ago. I had hoped the girls would not remember where our lizard was, or he would have been taken care of by some sort of roadkill crew, but no such luck. Every time we leave the apartment, the girls request to see the lizard on the way home. Yesterday L & M even noticed his "hurt arm" (hurt being an understatement when the arm is no longer attached). And out came another elaborate story about how his mom will put a band-aid on it when he wakes up. This may be getting out of hand, but I don't quite think two year olds are ready to talk about death. So one of these days I'll discretely move him and wait for the next opportunity. In the meantime, we'll continue to talk to our sleeping friend. But L & M know one thing for sure: he is T-I-R-E-D. After what he's been through, I can't blame him. Out of all of this I'm starting to question my reaction to our little dead friend. Am I totally morbid? I'm almost afraid to ask.
posted by Leslie at 2:53 PM
14 Comments:
Leslie, you are so funny. You are definitely being a good mom. I was shocked the day that Noah came up stairs with a toy gun (don't know where he got that, but he loves it, and I can't stand guns) anyway, he came up to me and said "I shot you, you dead." I was so shocked, I didn't know what to say. Apparently Disney channel is giving more information than I thought. I guess they have to learn somehow. Good luck with your morbid lizard friend.
hahah this is my favorite story EVER! the best part is that he's missing a limb. haha i'm so glad you posted this.
Jocelyn
p.s. everybody, after I posted this I totally went and moved him with a stick and covered him with rocks. He was starting to decompose.
I am so jealous, I wish I could have gotten away with "He's sleeping" We had a cat die and now everything is about "Peter is with Heavenly Father" "I don't want to die mom" It's a HUGE can of worms that one. My only plus is Garrett Grandparents aren't going to hang in there much longer so at least when it happens we can tell them they went to live with Peter the cat.
P.s. I forgot to tell you my kids to this day carry around dead bugs, first they tell me it's sleeping and then after half a day they regretrully inform me it must be dead. A "Game" they play often.
jen
hahaha! oh les you're such a good mom i'm sure i would have never thought to use "sleeping" instead of "he's dead." hello i'm the one that told the girls that frinny died when really she was just in the canoe for a few weeks.
I pictured the whole thing as you narrated it. What a funny story! I am glad he disappeared before he lost another limb! Oh how I miss them!
love,
Syl
You could have said the lizard was taking a dirt nap :)
I'm worried about the emotional scars I'm going to leave on my kids by not being to think up a story quick enough.
That was a great story for the girls to relate to. I know that I would have just said that's icky don't touch it. Yep and then Gwen would have just said eww yuck for the rest of the day. Keep these moments coming I need a few pointers.
oh, what a cute story. it's a good one, you will be telling it for year, per your twins request.
Hilarious! I'll have to take notes for when I have kids. Dead Lizard = Sleeping Lizard
I'm with heather, I never would have thought to tell them he was sleeping! I love this story! How do the girls know to tip-toe when someone is sleeping? Kids are so smart :)
How funny (and sad!)! Your girls are so observant and smart - isn't it amazing what they pick up on? Sometimes Isaac still looks for a grasshopper he saw in the flower bed last summer.... still... I hope your girls let go of their lizard friend easier. :)
oh my gosh it has been way too long since I have look at your blog congrats on Ryan getting accepted to school and on L&M believing the story about the lizard, that was some quick thinking, I am going to remember that one in case I am ever in a similiar situation. The best thing about it, is that they haven't forgotten about it..so funny!
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