The tale of the swallowed CTR ring and other misadventures of Lillian Grace
My five year old daughter is fearless--to an extent.
She can handle the most gravity-defying roller coasters with a smile and a breathless, "Let's do that again!" whispered through her wind tousled blonde hair. She sizes up most strangers and observes them carefully, and does not quell nor quake from the appearance of the largest to smallest. She got on the school bus and never looked back, as she did the first time she went to preschool or walked into her first gymnastics class. The thought to be nervous or afraid literally never crosses her mind.
However, like most of us, Lillian's fearlessness has a limit. An unfortunate accident last year with a small kiddie pool and some broken glass landed her front and center with a large needle and four stitches, administered (for various reasons) without the aid of of any numbing or anesthesia. Not surprisingly, Lillian now lives in utter terror that she will one day have to face that needle again. The slightest cut or sight of blood sends her practically into apoplexy.
Yesterday I wasn't home to see her off the bus, but Trent, who occasionally works from home, was there. He could tell as she disembarked that something was wrong and that she was trying to hold back the tears. Once she saw him, she dissolved in his arms in sobs.
He comforted her and as he did, the story came spilling out. She had, of all things, swallowed her CTR ring (newly bestowed from her CTR teacher last Sunday) while riding the bus.
Now, this begs the question: at what point did she think in her little mind, "Not sure what to do with this here ring, but I guess I'll just pop it in my mouth. There's a good idea"? One is mystified, but not really, by such behavior. She is, after all, five years old. Ramona Quimby herself faired far worse.
Lillian's concern (and therefore tears) had not to do with the loss of the ring (to Lillian, everything is expendable and entirely affordable) but rather if the possibility that the rather uncomfortable sensation she'd felt while the ring went down somehow meant blood and stitches were going to be involved in the process. When Trent assured her of the ring's most likely disposal from her rear end, that created a whole new set of tears and concern for stitches. Ahem. A most uncomfortable thought, I heartily agree.
Life went on that afternoon, as it always does, and when her concern for stitches was ultimately assuaged, she resumed her happy and carefree existence which these days involves time in front of her Barbie Dream House and playing with Ella, a scrawny scrap of feistiness, who happens to be the third child of our neighbor two doors down.
When Ella's parents--who happen to be good friends of ours (and oh, it is so wonderful to have them as neighbors)-- came to pick her up later that evening, we invited them to stay for dinner. And they stayed, and we laughed and we chatted and the girls continued to play.
It was getting past bedtime and Tyler, Ella's dad, went down to the basement where the girls were playing to let Ella know it was almost time to go home. It was there that Tyler discovered two small, wet puddles in our playroom. Upon inquiry, the truth unfolded: Lillian, fearful of going to the bathroom by herself, decided that instead of interrupting her playtime, she would be better served to just squat and drop. Ever the loyal friend, Ella decided to join her.
One struggles at a time like this to know exactly what sort of punishment to enforce, or how to explain that yes, sometimes when hiking through the woods we take a tinkle behind a tree, but doing so in the playroom is not quite the same thing.
Equally devastated, both girls are suffering through being grounded today. Lillian with her ingested CTR ring, keeps coming up with plans for ways to visit Ella, who is also imprisoned in her home just two doors down. Trent has kept Lillian busy with mopping floors and dusting furniture and wiping down walls. She has taken it like a champ.
She handles most things like that. Because mostly, she is fearless.
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| Awesome stunts in our hotel room in California |
She can handle the most gravity-defying roller coasters with a smile and a breathless, "Let's do that again!" whispered through her wind tousled blonde hair. She sizes up most strangers and observes them carefully, and does not quell nor quake from the appearance of the largest to smallest. She got on the school bus and never looked back, as she did the first time she went to preschool or walked into her first gymnastics class. The thought to be nervous or afraid literally never crosses her mind.
However, like most of us, Lillian's fearlessness has a limit. An unfortunate accident last year with a small kiddie pool and some broken glass landed her front and center with a large needle and four stitches, administered (for various reasons) without the aid of of any numbing or anesthesia. Not surprisingly, Lillian now lives in utter terror that she will one day have to face that needle again. The slightest cut or sight of blood sends her practically into apoplexy.
 |
| Lillian and Ella commandeered the computer during our kitchen remodel last year (hence the stack of c-rap in the basement) |
Yesterday I wasn't home to see her off the bus, but Trent, who occasionally works from home, was there. He could tell as she disembarked that something was wrong and that she was trying to hold back the tears. Once she saw him, she dissolved in his arms in sobs.
He comforted her and as he did, the story came spilling out. She had, of all things, swallowed her CTR ring (newly bestowed from her CTR teacher last Sunday) while riding the bus.
Now, this begs the question: at what point did she think in her little mind, "Not sure what to do with this here ring, but I guess I'll just pop it in my mouth. There's a good idea"? One is mystified, but not really, by such behavior. She is, after all, five years old. Ramona Quimby herself faired far worse.
Lillian's concern (and therefore tears) had not to do with the loss of the ring (to Lillian, everything is expendable and entirely affordable) but rather if the possibility that the rather uncomfortable sensation she'd felt while the ring went down somehow meant blood and stitches were going to be involved in the process. When Trent assured her of the ring's most likely disposal from her rear end, that created a whole new set of tears and concern for stitches. Ahem. A most uncomfortable thought, I heartily agree.Life went on that afternoon, as it always does, and when her concern for stitches was ultimately assuaged, she resumed her happy and carefree existence which these days involves time in front of her Barbie Dream House and playing with Ella, a scrawny scrap of feistiness, who happens to be the third child of our neighbor two doors down.
It was getting past bedtime and Tyler, Ella's dad, went down to the basement where the girls were playing to let Ella know it was almost time to go home. It was there that Tyler discovered two small, wet puddles in our playroom. Upon inquiry, the truth unfolded: Lillian, fearful of going to the bathroom by herself, decided that instead of interrupting her playtime, she would be better served to just squat and drop. Ever the loyal friend, Ella decided to join her.
One struggles at a time like this to know exactly what sort of punishment to enforce, or how to explain that yes, sometimes when hiking through the woods we take a tinkle behind a tree, but doing so in the playroom is not quite the same thing.
Equally devastated, both girls are suffering through being grounded today. Lillian with her ingested CTR ring, keeps coming up with plans for ways to visit Ella, who is also imprisoned in her home just two doors down. Trent has kept Lillian busy with mopping floors and dusting furniture and wiping down walls. She has taken it like a champ.
She handles most things like that. Because mostly, she is fearless.
Comments
I had to remove a jingle bell from my Julie's throat one evening--and she was older than 5. It was terrifying.
Your girl sounds like a joy!!
It kills me what my kids put in their mouths. I am so glad yours get to experience the same odd fun.
xoxo
also, pulling up blogger today and finding these two posts I didn't know existed, just made my whole dang day.