Go Florida
Kevin's mom flew from New Jersey to Florida back in November when her brother was in an almost fatal car accident. She's been down there ever since, and Liam misses his Gran-Gran. When he sees a plane in the sky, he tells me that it's flying to Florida to see Gran-Gran. Yesterday he was watching the clouds scudding along above the trees, and he told me the clouds were flying to Florida. I asked him why they were going there, and he replied, "Clouds do need to see Gran-Gran."
Today he scooted around the corner of the kitchen, pushing a toy school bus with a plush giraffe, George, perched on top. As he zoomed past, I sensed that he was a little boy on a big mission.
Me: "Hey, kiddo, why is George driving the school bus?"
Liam: "George no drive. Baby drive! George is, um, um, passs, um, passager! George is passager!"
Me: "I see! So where are you all going?"
Liam: "Come, Mommy. Mommy must come, too."
Me: "OK, but where are we going?"
Liam: "Go Florida. Gran-Gran in Florida. Baby must see Gran-Gran! Mommy must join George and Baby. All get in 'chool bus. Then all go Florida! Then Baby see Gran-Gran!!"
At this point, Liam grabbed my jeans, pulled me towards the front door, and ran back to retrieve George and the school bus.
So, Mom, whenever you get a chance to stop and breathe, just remember that there is a very little boy here in New Jersey who misses you more than you know. And you know what? His Mommy misses you, too.
Today he scooted around the corner of the kitchen, pushing a toy school bus with a plush giraffe, George, perched on top. As he zoomed past, I sensed that he was a little boy on a big mission.
Me: "Hey, kiddo, why is George driving the school bus?"
Liam: "George no drive. Baby drive! George is, um, um, passs, um, passager! George is passager!"
Me: "I see! So where are you all going?"
Liam: "Come, Mommy. Mommy must come, too."
Me: "OK, but where are we going?"
Liam: "Go Florida. Gran-Gran in Florida. Baby must see Gran-Gran! Mommy must join George and Baby. All get in 'chool bus. Then all go Florida! Then Baby see Gran-Gran!!"
At this point, Liam grabbed my jeans, pulled me towards the front door, and ran back to retrieve George and the school bus.
So, Mom, whenever you get a chance to stop and breathe, just remember that there is a very little boy here in New Jersey who misses you more than you know. And you know what? His Mommy misses you, too.
posted by Liesl at
10:38 PM
6 Comments:
How sweet! If only you had a schoolbus that could whisk you down to Florida....
By
Suzanne, at Friday, January 27, 2006 1:02:00 PM
Liam sounds like a very special boy. You must be making lots of good parenting decisions. My girls miss their Nannie in Canada but will they talk on the phone to her? No. Miss A. prefers to have long conversations on her toy phones than use the real one.
As for Liam's "Felixness": I have observed this in my oldest. God knows she didn't get it from her parents. I wonder if it is a birth order phenomenon. Watch out if you have a second child! Sure to be an "Oscar."
By
Kathleen, at Saturday, January 28, 2006 1:27:00 AM
Hi Suzanne!
Good idea. And since Liam clearly wants to drive, I could sleep the whole way ;-)
By
Liesl, at Saturday, January 28, 2006 9:27:00 PM
Aw, thanks, Kathleen!
Liam's the same way-he'll tell me to call Gran-Gran, or Daddy at work, but then all the poor person on the other end hears is Liam's heavy breathing.
And, gosh, I hadn't thought about it, but it must be hard for you being in a whole 'nother hemisphere from friends and family. I bet you really miss them.
You may be right in that first kids are Felix's. Goodness knows Kevin and I aren't exactly organized. But it is nice to have a kid who insists on putting away his toys. I plan on encouraging that habit. Hhhmm, maybe he'd like to turn his attention to the garage?
By
Liesl, at Saturday, January 28, 2006 9:32:00 PM
We certainly have a lot to miss. It may be harder on those left in Canada as they are missing out on seeing my girls grow daily. All us tall people can keep in fairly close contact with blogs, phones, snail-mail but the granddaughters are another matter.
We are so fortunate to live in a time with all of this sophisticated communication technology. On the other hand, if it wasn't for the internet, my husband may not have found the job here.
By
Kathleen, at Sunday, January 29, 2006 3:00:00 PM
It is harder on kids, I think, since they are used to having loved ones physically around them, and aren't old enough to understand the big picture about why we move from place to place. Also, they (depending on age) don't have a concept of time or distance. Liam doesn't understand that traveling to Florida is not the same as going across town to the park, and he certainly doesn't understand that Gran-Gran may be home in March or May or whatever month it turns out to be. I imagine some of that is true for your girls, even though they are a bit older. And even if they will talk on the phone to family, it's still not the same as being there in person.
I remember the "old days" not so very long ago when one looked for a position in a trade journal or something similar, put a paper CV in the snail mail, and hoped for a letter or a phone call asking for an interview. It's all different now; one e-mails said CV, and interview requests are made by return e-mail. And all those boards that post jobs and resumes. Mind-boggling, in a lot of ways.
It sounds like the tech age benefited your family. I'm quite envious of your opportunity to live in a paradise :)
By
Liesl, at Sunday, January 29, 2006 9:20:00 PM
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