Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Rude Old Lady

Abe's new favorite show is Shaun the Sheep, which is a "watch instant" selection on Netflix. Every night for the last week, this is what he's chosen to watch after his bath. A few minutes ago, he walked in to my office and said that he didn't want to watch it anymore.

"Why, Abe?"

"Cause that old lady hits the guy with her purse."

"And you don't like that part?"

While nibbling on his cereal, he shakes his head seriously and says, "No. Cause that's rude."

I went with him into the room where he was watching and clicked ahead to the next episode. He wanted me to stay. He was worried that the rude old lady would come back. I told him I didn't think she was in this episode.

He watched for a few seconds and said, "Oh, it's okay Mom. It's just the aliens in this one."

Abe is not scared in the least of aliens (albeit claymation aliens) but is a little freaked out by how rude a little old lady with a purse can be.

Last night at dinner, he also told us that the green beans he was eating were lovely. He actually used the word "lovely." To be clear, we have never used this word to describe food or probably anything else really. Back when we were getting updates via email about our baby Abe, one that stuck out to me was the description of him as being "polite," even as a baby. Granted, he is learning the joy of loud burping as every 3-year-old should, but in general, his spirit is so gentle, so kind, so lovely. We love him so.

***

Thank you for all the suggestions on what a 5-year-old girl would find useful and comforting. Thank you. I read them all and will really mull over all the suggestions.

On the subject of princesses, I found today three books for little girls that I like a lot.

The first is Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple. This is a library find.


The next is Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett Smith. I found this at Goodwill and will add it to the growing collection of Princess Bee things.


The last is probably my favorite. It's called The Red Wolf by Margaret Shannon and is based on a Czech folk tale. With my connection to Slovakia, this may be why I was so drawn to it when I first found it a year or so ago at our library. Even then, Abe would sit and listen to it, and this time, I think he understood why the princess in this story wanted to escape the tower. I love this book. This was also a library find.

6 comments:

Jeanette said...

First time commenter on your blog - though long time follower. Thanks for you many years of inspirations.

I couldn't help but share our favorite princess book - Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle. A book about finding yourself, and it turns out that yes, princesses can wear hiking boots. I've got 2 girls adopted to our family from Nepal and India, and it one of their favorites. Enjoy.

Bridget said...

Oh, and the Paper Bag Princess- LOVE that one!!!
If only Elia would love all these "positive princess stories." I try. She goes back to the sparkly pink cheesey princess books (the ones I did not buy for her, fyi) somehow we have acquired some real winners....errr....not.....and of course THOSE are the ones she loves. :(

Sara said...

I was just about to leave a comment about the Paper Bag Princess too!

kn said...

Oh I love Abe! He is so very very very special! As I've said before he reminds me so much of Quinn! I once took Quinn to a children's musical theatre about manners. He was five. It was recommended for 3-8 year olds. It was delightful and my mother, and friend and I all loved it. Quinn was horrified and still describes it as the day I took him to the 'inappropriate theatre show." It was inappropriate because of one little boy who did not know how to behave at a birthday party. He wanted the first piece of cake, he grabbed all the toys, etc. Quinn was horrified.

Oh sweet Abe! The world is so lucky to have you in it!!

Shasta said...

It is rude to hit someone with your purse, isn't it? There's a video store here that is always playing Shaun the Sheep. We can actually browse there because Dagim will just stand in front of the TV, mesmerized. We finally bought him a disc and then he said he didn't want to watch it anymore because a pumpkin-head scared him. I'm still undecided about whether I like Shaun the Sheep. It seems pretty harmless but if two three-year olds have decided, of their own will, that they don't want to watch it anymore, what does that mean? Although Dagim doesn't like Finding Nemo either because it's too scary for him.

Claudia said...

Heh. I love that he disapproves of Shaun the sheep. Hilarious.

(And btw - I have never had a 5 y.o. girl, as you know, but all I wanted at that age was dolls and teddies. Hundreds of them).