Queen Elsa, Somersaults, and Silliness

The other night I dropped my two teenage children off for a Sunday fireside * (devotional) at a church member's house.  I saw one of my friends, and also the Young Women's President pull up to the house on her bike.  I'd been meaning to talk to her, so I left my car running and jumped out to check on how my excessively shy girl is doing in her church youth classes. --Not great. ;\ 

After visiting a minute with my friend, an 8 yr. old daughter (from inside the house) came up to me and started talking to me. I said goodbye to H, as she hurried in for the fireside and turned to visit with J . A bright, beautiful, articulate child. She's warm, trusting, and naturally loving and open. And well, it's hard  for me not to enjoy myself around those kind of people!

J and I have visited many times before, but on this night she was carrying her Queen Elsa barbie doll and a fun conversation ensued on the movie frozen, and specifically "Queen Elsa."  I tried to convince her to like Princess Anna more.  But, her mind could bot be changed.  

Me:  But why do you like Princess Elsa so much?
J.  (correction) Queen Elsa! 

Me:  Okay! ;) Queen Elsa!

J; "Queen Elsa can do cool magic with her hands, and her dress is so pretty, and she's sooo beautiful." (and she tilted her head down to tightly hug her Queen Elsa to her heart. 

Me: (teasingly) Yeah, okay, so she builds really cool ice castles and a cute snowman, BUT Princess Elsa is forgiving, she sings so pretty, and never stops loving-- You know that sad part (and I imitate a spoken child's voice)  "Do you wanna build a snowman?"

J: Yeah, but Queen Elsa sings (and J breaks into song) "The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen..."  

Me. You sing so pretty J.

J:  Thanks, now you try it.  

Me:  What are the words again? (I only know the words "Let it Go! Let it Go!...")

J: (repeats the words she sang)

Me:  I start singing it.

J:  Hey, you sound just like Queen Elsa!

Me: Thanks :)

Me:  But J, Anna has the same hair color as we do! (Dark Brown)

J: (cutely correcting me!) "Her hair is red!" 

Me: (puzzled, and thinking back to a visual image I have of Anna,) "Oh, yeah, I guess it is kind of reddish"  

J:  (Holding a handful of her long hair to shine in the setting sun) "look" 

[I understood immediately her unspoken intent, for I'd done the same thing many times myself!  Yes, brown hair usually has reddish undertones when the light shines through]

Me: (holding up my hair for the sun to also shine through) "Yeah, and I have reddish hair too"  

J; (Giggling) We both have the same hair as Anna!

You can thank me, because that's the abridged version of our conversation on that topic!

We also spoke about all kinds of things-- like how there is a mean girl who won't let her play with her friend K.C. at school, and how how she has a chandelier in her room, and a desk that was her brother's and she's scraping of the black chalk paint from it because she already has a chalkboard, and how her parents used to have cats but one was smushed by a car and the other by the garage door! 

And, of course, I told her how I have a chandelier in my front room.  Which I call my "temple room" (but it never really looks quite as clean as a temple, because my children are mess makers!)

And how we have 2 pet bunnies, and a hamster, but we used to have pigeons, bunnies, dogs, and chickens! 

And on and on we visited-- because that's what two talkative girls do! ;)

One of my favorite things J told was a story about how one morning, when she was still asleep, her sister woke her up by throwing herself on J-- and then they proceeded to re-enact a scene from Frozen--- Which of course J and her sister have memorized!!  And little J acted it out for me, and explained she kept her eyes closed and her sister opened one of them just like Elsa. She was proud of her ability to act asleep.

Young Anna: [climbs into Elsa's bed] Elsa. Psst. Elsa! Wake up, wake up, wake up!

Young Elsa: [half-asleep] Anna, go back to sleep.

Young Anna: I just can't. 

[dramatically] The sky's awake, 

so I'm awake, so we have to play!

Young Elsa: [smiling] Go play by yourself! 

[nudges Anna off the bed]

[Anna hits the floor with a thud, but smiles 

and climbs back up on the bed. 

She opens one of Elsa's eyes]

Young Anna: [mischievously] Do you wanna build a snowman?

Somehow after sharing the story she told me how she could almost do a somersault. I followed her over to the grass and she tried very hard, but wasn't quite making it.  I showed her how to place her feet and tuck her head toward her knees and how to push off with her legs and hands.  I gave her a push over and she did a successful somersault.

We practiced several more times.  And I even demonstrated a somersault twice in my perfectly mature, ladylike manners (and all dressed in my knee length peasant skirt and blouse!!)  She thought that was too funny.  (But, then again, she's a giggly, happy child, and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.  I'm not so sure any onlookers were as generous as she was. I don't mind occasionally marching to my own rat-a-tat-tat--- drum beat! ;)  After I had her practice a few more somersaults, she started to get the hang of it.  (She still needs to put more speed into pushing off though.)

[Reminds me of a song: "If you don't happen to like me pass me by!!"]

J moved on to something else.  This time she showed me how to move and twist around the tall basketball hoop on the drive way.  Because she's a petite girl, and still developing coordination, like other children her age, it took care and thought on her part.  She finished her feat, and said, "Now you try it." 

When J had me take a turn to copy what she had done, I worried that that it would look too easy if I did it like she did.  I have the leg length to reach stepping spots that she'd had trouble with.  I didn't want to make it seem like a "piece of cake," and squash any of her wonderful self-esteem, so  I modified what I did.  I danced around it like an awkward pirouetting ballerina.  She watched me, and then corrected me nicely "No, that's not how you do it." She then demonstrated and told me again to give it a try.  I just laughed and said, I might fall and hit my head on the cement if I did.  :))  

Well, I was having a great time visiting with her, but made my apologies, and told her I should be getting home.  After all, I was only there 30-40 minutes!

As always, you may be asking,  "Goodness, what is the point of Christine's long winded play by play of her conversation and playtime with J."  I'm glad you asked.  :)  I'll tell you.

1. Children need role models. Not only do children get into trouble without proper attention, but it also affects their self-esteem.  Children derive increased confidence when they are listened to and engage in happy social relationships. (Okay, I'm not going to write a research paper here.  So I won't bother to support any of my facts or theories! Just go with it, okay?!)
2. It's a great way to remember how you acted and felt as a child.  We live in a world of distraction.  As adults we tent to always be off cleaning, sending emails, checking Facebook, editing photos, watching movies, working, or doing our civic or church duties.  I realize those things can be important and necessary, but there is something truly satisfying when engaging with children.  You are reminded of perspectives and views of the world you saw when you were much closer to the ground.  Memories you've long forgotten.
3. Making eye contact is more rewarding than staring at a lap top, cell phone, or ipod. Having this time with J, reminded me that I want to give my full and undivided attention to my own children.  I certainly try.  And I have a lot of fun, precious, and special stories I could share of my conversations and experiences with them.  But, giving your undivided attention to one child is vastly different than dividing it with 5!  It can be downright challenging!  And sometime I feel exhausted in the effort.
   
   From this experience I felt renewed in my desire to make sure I am setting aside opportunities in which I have alone time with each of my children.   Not just alone time in the house, while my 4 year old helps me clean in the kitchen or bedroom, or my 13 year old makes cookies (and I give her baking tips), but also alone time going outside more.  Doing such things as jumping on the trampoline, going on a walk or bike ride, a "date" with just Mom and/or Dad, or practicing somersaults together are just a few of the many possibilities!
   
   I do a lot of those things, but I realized after talking with J, that I'm going to need to actually make conscious effort to stop what I'm doing and give them regular time and attention, especially as it relates to going outdoors- in all kinds of weather.
   
   
4. Children gain confidence for positive interactions with adults.  Today on Facebook I saw a short clip about "acting like a girl."  
   It's pathetic commentary on how society views females.  If I can pay attention to not just my daughter's, but son's, or other children, and give encouragement and let them know I care, then I'm hopeful they will know how special they are, and that's it's alright to be themselves!  (I mean, seriously, if at my age I can do a somersault and not act embarrassed that someone might see me, then I hope it relays the message that "I'm alright with myself," and they like themselves as they are too!)
   
   OH, and guys, I better not hear you tell your son's "What!!  Are you gonna cry like a girl now?! Buck up and be a man." (I won't step all the way on my soap box now, but needless to say,  I don't increase in respect when men talk that way to their sons!)

We can learn to be more like Jesus! (Not to mention children can remind us how Heavenly Father loves us with the same compassion and mercy, and that we are of value in His sight.)  Think of all the wonderful qualities I've described of J. Think of the sweet, endearing qualities in children you know and love.

• Children are generally accepting of everyone. 
• Children love to experiment and learn. 
• Children are trusting. 
•  Children are teachable. 
• Children forgive quickly. 
• Children love to laugh and giggle. 
• Children aren't afraid of appearances. 
• Children speak with direct honesty!
• Children have tremendous faith in everyone and everything. 
• Children are what the savior admonished us to be like! 

In  Matthew 18 we read:

 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the ^agreatest in the kingdom of heaven?

 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little ^achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 4 Whosoever therefore shall ^ahumble himself as this little ^bchild, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my ^aname receiveth me.

 6 But whoso shall ^aoffend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

I hope we will work harder to show love to the Heavenly Father's children of all ages.  I know it can be hard at times, but He trusts us to show His love and care.  And when we do, we will each be blessed.

Christine

I took the this other day up our beautiful canyon.  We ate Little Caesar's for a picnic and explored around the water. 

P.S. Update and Warning! ;)  

Not all interactions are going to be as pleasant as the one I described above!!  

My stinker M wanted to be in the photo when I took a picture of
this card I made at Relief Society the other night.
Our card making didn't go this well tonight!! :P

After writing this blog, I went to test my ability to set aside my distractions, and pay close attention to my children.  First I said we'd have a craft time, while the 2 oldest were at their church youth activity. 

I went to get some pretty scrapbook paper in the basement, and discovered my boys had dumped a big bag of cereal on the front sidewalk.  I had them help me first clean it up, so we could make cards. It had been a rainy day and the Lucky Charms stuck to the sidewalk! It took longer than anticipated to clean.

Here are M and S the next night.  There were fighting over the
pillows and the chair.  :(  I don't mind a little fun, or temporary mess,
but when the fighting and crying starts, I do whatever I can to
improve the situation. Usually they are the best of friend tho!

Once finished, I gathered the paper and made my way into my bedroom (which was clean most of the day) but suddenly the boys were leaping from chair to bed and wrestling with each other, and piling up pillows and blankets and a crib mattress for more fun.  

Promises are important for me to keep to my children, so I was trying to make bright Halloween inspired greeting cards with my 9 year old daughter.  The boys were suppose to have participated, but they were having to much fun with all the bedding!  

Meanwhile, my two oldest came home from the church activity.  Realizing it was getting late, I called
for it to be scripture time.  My 15 year old read from the Doctrine and Covenants, while I tried to quietly pick up and get the boys to settle down. Needless to say, but they weren't terribly quiet during scriptures.

If only our prayer time looked this reverent!!

C finished a short chapter, and that meant prayer time.  My 13 year old, K, quickly drops to her knees and starts praying. I say  "Wait for the rest of us to kneel"  I lovingly threatened ;) asked the boys to kneel and be quiet.  Ummm...yeah, the sound went from loud sillies to softer reverent sillies.  My 7 year old, H, chimed in and started to pray a quick prayer (They worry that I might beat them.  I'm not into short prayers!)  Tonight I felt very happy that it was short and sweet.  As the three oldest went off quietly to bed.  I was left to wrangle the 2 wild ones! (4 and 7 years old)

I was so tired and wanted to get to bed early myself, but you probably can tell that they were too rowdy for that.  I had a clever idea of "Which of you can go potty the fastest" Off the boys raced.  Little M (4) made it to my toilet first and peed quickly.  Then S jumped on the same toilet as soon as M finished (don't ask me why they didn't choose separate bathrooms tonight, but they didn't!)  S too peed quickly.  But as he stood, with laughing disdain cried out, "He peed on my bottom and now it's burning!"  I'm like, "What are you talking about 'He peed on your bottom'?!" (And of course there was no way I could keep a straight face at that!!  (We were all laughing) [Mystery was soon solved.  I learned that S sat down to pee and got M's"hot" pee to "burn" him--translated by me "He peed on the toilet and now I have very warm pee on my patootie!")

(Okay, that may be one of those "You had to be there to get it" kind of stories!)

While S was getting his pull ups on, M was complaining of how he wanted to sleep in my bed.
"No way!" I replied.  I explained to him again, the same thing I'd told him this morning. (Which made him laugh every time I told him that wasn't happening again.)

You see, last night I gave in because I was so very tired and didn't feel I had the energy to muster a firm action against it.  Well, with him in the bed I had bad dreams all night! (Heat always causes this for me. And I even had the window A/C blowing on me!)  There's a reason I call him "My sweaty little bed hog." Worst still, but last night his feet were often pummeling me in the stomach!  He promised me that tonight he'd stay farther away from me.  But there was no changing my mind!

Because I refused to let his hot-tempered self share my bed (Dad's out of town), he was ornery about getting on his own bed.  S was being surprisingly cooperative by this point, so I said, "Come into S's room, I'm going to read a book.  I cuddled with S on my lap and M near me.  They had a lot of fun reading about Thomas's first day of school.  M wanted me to read it again, and he also wanted "2 more books"   then "No, 3 more books" (That's what you get when they are learning their numbers in preschool!)  No more books.  The night had been too crazy.

I was enjoying the snuggle time with S, so I decided to take a minute to ask him some questions

about his day.  I asked him about the friends he played with today.  He told me Jaden, and the new boy Connor.  Then I asked what they played.  He'd told me he'd played with sand earlier, but now he added a new dimension to this conversation..... 

S:  Oh we played guns.  We shot each other with our hands, like this (mimics gun hands and starts shooting me and little M. who was looking through the picture book again.

Me. (a bit distressed!)  But guns can kill people, it's not nice to even pretend.

S.  We also played knives, and we stuck them into ourselves. (Mimics a knife in his chest)

Me: (Motherly distress is growing.  I'm worried I may be raising a killer! But trying to keep it light.  Trying....)  Did you pretend to die?

S.  (ignoring the question.  He was much to excited to tell me more!)  And I also shot off a bee shooter!

Me:  A bee shooter?  What's that?

S.  (And ignoring the answer in his enthusiasm) And a fish shooter. (pauses) No, I didn't shoot a fish shooter, I just made that up just now.  Yeah, and the bee gun shoots out bees and they sting the other person.

Okay, do you see the definitive difference between girls and boys!!  Here I was expecting this happy little jaunt down memory lane, through sunshine and flowers, and I get instead- killing!  (Fortunately, I do have to add that he is an uber sweet boy!  And emulates the Christ like qualities I mention above, but he is just that- a boy! ;)

Reminds me of a poem my Mother often told me as a little girl.   (Hey look, I can draw a happy memory from that crazy boy experience!)

What are little boys made of? Made of?
What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails

That's what little boys are made of!"

What are little girls made of? Made of?
What are little girls made of?

"Sugar and spice and all things nice

That's what little girls are made of!

Well, I think tonight is one of my longest posts, but I couldn't resist drawing a comparison to my experiences of two different children.

 The house is now quiet. The boys finally fell asleep by 10 (Late! but better than midnight! And in their own beds!) I can sit here and laughingly reflect on children and family life.  And I realize that "Out of the mouths of babes" seems to lose it's seriousness, in moments like these.  But truly, I am thankful for my life, and for all my many blessings.

I am reminded of an epiphany I had with a song from Frozen while in the temple recently.  (And I'm pretty sure you've never heard this analogy drawn from the song "In Summer."  So please check back to read it. I think it's a lesson we can all use in life!
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 *(DEFINITION: A "fireside" is a gathering of people-- usually it is of a more spiritual nature, but sometimes it can just be playing games and eating donuts.  You know, as "sitting around the fireside" and visiting.  Except usually there isn't a fire involved. :)   

I Am A Child of God

or watch I am a Child of God on Electric Guitar!