Tuesday, July 17, 2012

THE PEANUT GALLERY: Every Shell Tells a Story

Peanut and I were collecting shells on the beach earlier this month on her self-proclaimed "best day ever." As I picked up a shell I thought I'd attempt to get philosophical with my five year-old:
'"You know, Peanut. Every shell has a story to tell." 
What I meant was, they've been places and done things... in the past...



For instance, I found my story for this mussel shell quite hilarious:
"This one says," "Oh no! I've been eaten by a seagull!"
Peanut, however, took my task literally. As in right now, these shells ARE TELLING a story. Initially I found her spin on my little game mildly annoying. Then realized it was rather amusing. Finally, I felt it was absolutely refreshing. Here I was focusing on the past. She, with the eternal optimism of a child, was looking to their future. Their hopes and dreams, Their goals. Some of it, their immediate future:

"This one wants to be a sticker."

"This one doesn't want to be sandy."

"This one wants to be a slide."

"This one wants to be all white."
Despite my love for her honest, pure, impromptu  responses, (and due in part to the latent racism in that last one), I still quietly yearned for her to play the game my way.

So I grabbed one more shell and asked, "And what's this one say, Peanut?"

"That's a dead crab, daddy."
As I mentioned above, this was all part of Peanut's self-proclaimed "best day ever," which I described here.

13 comments:

  1. Clearly dead crabs don't have aspirations.

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    Replies
    1. None. But in some cases, "dead crabs" are a good thing.;-)

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  2. Your daughter is absolutely adorable. I'd like to take my kids to the ocean some day.

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    Replies
    1. She in indeed... and a character. Thanks for noticing. ;-)

      And you're always welcome at the Jersey Shore. It's nothing like what they show on tv.

      Delete
  3. What a sweet post! There is something about kids and oceans- something magical inside them just lights up in a way no other place can accomplish. We've taken my step-daughter on vacations all around- but her favorite days are the ones spent on the sand by the water.

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    Replies
    1. Only a child can get sand in undesirable places and think it's great. We go to the beach again in early August. Can't wait.

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  4. He may have had dreams but now he's fill for lump crab cakes somewhere. Poor crab.

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  5. Awwww!

    I just awarded you the "Sunshine Award" come check it out at deezydoesiteezy.blogspot.com/

    XX XO,
    Deezy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice! Before my son was born, I used to imagine having deep philosophical discussions with my child. I wanted to be that dad that my future grown-up son would refer to when being interviewed about his greatest inspiration: "My father and I used to walk the beach and he taught me so many things..." But my attempts at deep discussion inevitably look like yours with Peanut. Bottom line, though: you were a part of her "Best Day Ever" and no amount of wisdom will ever be more valuable than that.

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    Replies
    1. Very true. Very wise, my friend. It's a day I will remember for a long time.

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  7. I love how as soon as you try to get into the game, she turns it on you and you're the one left holding the 'dead crab'!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah.. like I'M the one not playing right. Kids these days.

      Delete

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