Friday, March 14, 2008

Career Day Report

Well Career Day went splendidly, as I knew it would.

I was having a great hair day, and wore a cute white button down fitted shirt with my Gap Long and Lean jeans and real shoes. I even put on makeup.

Most of the kids already knew me from the Valentine's Day party so they were all really cute and friendly and excited. Big Kid just beamed as he watched me speak. It was so cute to see his proud smile and his sideways glances at his friends.

I let them all take pictures with my camera, which was a big hit and explained what I did and showed them some photographs and a photo book.

Vivian positively glowed when Big Kid chose to take a picture of her. I gave them all their photos from the V-day playdate and she was so thrilled to have a photograph of the two of them. It completely cracks me up that girls are born this way or something.

Tonight before I put him in bed, Mr. Ashley told him to thank me for coming to school and talking to his friends and he said, "Tank you for comin' to my school and talkin' to my fwiends, mudder. In your white sirt. I wuv you."

"You're welcome. So you liked my shirt?"

Sweet shy smile and nod from Big Kid.

"Did I look pretty today?"

Big Kid: Yeah, you did. (kisses me and smiles sweetly)

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Can I also mention here that I read him The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein which is a fantastic but fairly metaphorical book about a boy and a tree who love each other and the boy plays and climbs and naps under the tree.

Then the boy becomes a teenager and only wants money and is convinced that will make him happy, so the tree gives him her apples to sell at the market.

Then he comes back as a young man and wants a house so he can have a family and be happy, so the tree gives him her branches to build a house.

Then he comes back as a man and he's miserable and convinced he'd be happy if he could have a boat to sail away in, and she gives him her trunk.

Then he comes back as an old man and she's scared he won't love her because she has nothing to give him, and he says he just wants a quiet place to sit down, and she offers him her stump.

Pretty deep really, but written and illustrated simply a la Shel Silverstein.

I finished the book and looked up and Big Kid was crying. Weeping, really (although that sounds totally gay).

I asked what was wrong and he told me that it was a really sad book and asked me why the man had to get old, and why he had to take all of that from the tree, and why couldn't the man and the tree just play and climb and be young forever.

Then he told me he didn't want to get married because then he'd get old and he wanted to be little forever. I started to explain that it really didn't work that way, and that he was going to get old no matter what, but figured he doesn't really need to know.

Not yet anyway.

It creeps up on you soon enough, no need to see it coming.

25 comments:

Ami said...

Awww... I just want to hug BK! The Giving Tree is one of my favorite children's books, and my husband HATES it b/c he says it is too long and boring. But, my little one sees the sadness, too - and loves the book anyway. (And, makes Daddy read it too him. Mwah, hah, hah!)

Great job workin' it on Career Day!

AFRo said...

My little ones LOVE that book, but ol' Shel Silverstein's picture on the back of it is enough to give them nightmares. Wasn't he a convict for years, or did I just make that up?

Kudos to you on career day. Sounded like you needed to feel some love from the little ones... judging by your "I Quit" post.

Mitch said...

Ahh, Big kid. So, sweet. I want to give him a hug too. And, I really need a hug. Its been a rough day.
I don't know about Shel's criminal history, but he did write for Playboy regularly in the late 1950's and off and on until the late 1990s. Just thought I'd bore you with some late night trivia.

Essential Amy said...

Just don't ever (and I mean EVER) read 'love you forever' by Robert Munch. I read that book before I had my son and it sent me into a bad depression. I can't even look at the cover without crying/getting the heebie jeebies.

Anonymous said...

I think I need to get a copy of that book. What a great story to tell your kiddos and an excellent metaphor for a mother. Love it! What a great kid you hav!

Anonymous said...

I have been reading this to Peanut since birth, and I cry every time I read it to her. Cuz I'm tuff like that.

Multislacking Mama said...

Wonderful and touching about the BK and the Giving Tree. I remember reading the book as a kid and never understanding why it made me feel the way it did. I haven't read it again as grown folk, but I think I will buy it for the LM's.
Thanks for the good words!
Holly (who still waits for the answer to the Pork Rind Question)

Anonymous said...

That's my favorite book! It still makes me weepy.

clemsongirlandthecoach said...

Do you think the tree is a metaphor for a Mother?? I love/hate that book.

Ashley said...

Looks like you had a good ending to your previously terror filled day with LK. I have these moments myself with the Monster, regarding life, growing old, dying and such and I agree with you. No need to scare them this young. Sometimes that's the hardest part of parenting, not the diapers, discipline or whatever. Just knowing that life is going to be hard and hurt them in ways you can't help. That's the toughest for me.

Anonymous said...

Awww-BK is your sensitive one, eh? What a sweetheart. Almost negates the E-bull terrorism of earlier in the day.

Glad 'career day' was a winner.

Jonah Lisa said...

Aw. I'm so torn on that book. Part appropriate environmental warning and message about not just taking, part scary notice to kids that they will get old and die.

I wouldn't be surprised if old Shel was an ex-con. I know he used to hang with Johnny Cash.

Sally said...

Bug says when he's grown up he's going to marry me.


The Mr. better watch his back.

Things I May Regret Writing said...

Love the book, but what I am super impressed by is Big Kid's ability to compliment you on your shirt! Flattery will get you everywhere, and that one is a heartbreaker.

Christy said...

I think BK's sensitvity is a sign of intelligence rather than gayness. He sounds like an absolutely wonderful kid!

Another Shel Sliverstein bit o'trivia: he wrote songs, including Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue".

Deb said...

Awwww...

I do like how he equated marriage and aging. When he's older, correct him and point out that it's children who make you age rapidly, not husbands.

Sasha said...

I am a Shel fan-"I cannot go to school today, said little Peggy Ann McKay. I have the measels and the mumps, a gash, a rash, and purple bumps."

Anyway, I am super upset along with you that our boys are getting so big. Birthday #5 for The Politician is approaching and freaking me out.

And after I laughed inside when P told me I was "A good cooker and a good cleaner" yesterday, I gave him a big hug and wiped away a tear. Cause yeah, I never clean, but dude, how sweet?

Nelly said...

Obsessed with you and your family. Honestly, keep keeping it real bc my friends and I read you religiously during class.

Becky said...

I have a slightly out-there friend who loved the book and had a dramatic reading of it performed at her wedding. It was very bizarre and somewhat uncomfortable, since she sometimes reminded me of the boy in the story! The pastor managed to turn it into a good sermon, reminding them that at the end of their lives, they should both be "old stumps", having given their all to their marriage and [future] family. They've been married 10 years now, so I guess they listened!

Melodie said...

Big Kid is such a sweetheart! I just want to give him a big hug.

Katie Ryan said...

Wow! That's kind of weird for a wedding ceremony, but to each his own.
Ashley, I am so proud of you guys. That almost made me cry.

Tina said...

Awwww, how sweet is BK? Seriously, that was too cute. *sniff

Anonymous said...

Oh, I feel the same way about the Giving Tree--I love it, but it always makes me want to cry! BK is such a sweetie!

~Gretchen~ said...

i cry every time i read that book.

and i use shel's pic on the back to illustrate to kids that you cant judge who a person is based on how they look

Amy said...

Very sweet. I loves me some Big Kid!