stuff and things

Anya picks up a lot at nannyshare, hanging out with the older kids. Usually that's a good thing. The older kids are very much into the "imaginative play" stage right now. They talk about various monsters and create scary beasts to fear. And then they act this out, screaming and hiding and then vanquishing said beasties. Anya had been joining in the play for quite awhile, but just mainly in the screaming, running, and giggling parts since she had no idea what was going on.

Cut to the other week: we're at home and she declares that she sees a giant bear in the hallway. I gasp, "oh no!" and Anya becomes frightened and her eyes tear up. Something similar happened the next day too. I (not quickly enough) figured out that she wasn't entirely sure if what she was "making up" was real or not. She just knew how the game went for the big kids. By going along with it, I inadvertently affirmed it and then she got scared.

After taking a friend's advice, I downplayed the scariness of the monster. Mom, see the giant robot in my bed? me: Oh. We should probably get him a blanket. Would you like to pick out a stuffed animal for him to snuggle up with? That kind of response seemed to do the trick. Because a week or two later, she still makes up the monsters several times a day and really seems to get that they are just pretend. It's pretty cute now because she asks us to hide under the covers or a blanket with her (and Laika too) and she just giggles and talks about the monster and it's likes and dislikes. Did you know that the girl-crocodile that lives under my bed only likes to eat apples?
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I took down the top-of-the-stairs gate to the upstairs this morning. I had left it there for times when Anya would play upstairs while I was on the computer, so I wouldn't have to worry about her not looking and falling down the stairs. Yesterday, it became very clear that it was more of a hazard than protection. We hosted PEPS last night and we always put Laika in the basement (poor puppy :-( ). But I thought she'd be more comfortable upstairs, so I put her up there for the first time. Bad idea. While we were eating dinner, Anya was eerily quiet, so I went to see what she was doing. Of course, up to no good. She was on top of the stair gate. When I say on top, I don't mean just straddling and on her way over. I mean completely on top. Her little knees were on the top edge and she had one hand on the post and one on the gate, balancing. I managed to pull her off safely and reprimand. But it really scared me. Ugh. Gives me the jeebies just thinking about it. I sure am glad I have that "mom sixth sense" thing going on. Anyway, gate is gone, so that's one less thing she can hurt herself on.

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Cute, from PEPS last night. Cora and her parents were the last ones to leave. Before they left, Anya asked Cora to sing "cows are in the meadow" (a co-op made-up verse to Ring Around the Rosie that has hand movements associated). Of course, Cora didn't know what she was talking about and I told Anya that Cora didn't know it. So Anya sat down on the ground to teach Cora the song and movements. And Cora sat down and learned them from Anya. We all thought that was pretty great. They're little people! So neat.