One thing that has become
very clear to Brian and me as Lucy has continued to get older: girlfriend has a creative mind. She likes to live in the world of make
believe. Before I share the latest story
to demonstrate this, a little background information may be necessary.
When Lucy is
presented with various options for what she wants to play, she inevitably will
choose fantasy over any type of structure (like a puzzle or board game). She loves to play dinosaur or Simba (from
Lion King) with Brian, and baby or school with me. Which, by the way, we are not trying to
promote these stereotypical male/female divisions in our play with her---it
just has occurred naturally, I swear! If
Lucy had her choice, she would live in this world of make believe 24-7. (Is this normal? Do we need to seek immediate
consult?)
 |
| Brian showing Lucy the remnants of a (dead) tree he just dropped. |
So, the latest
example? It began with our typical
school play. Lucy is Mrs. Hofmeister (my
sister, who is a teacher). I am the student. Teacher Hofmeister decides it is story time. She uses one of her piano books, and
makes up a story as she goes along. And
here is a rough and brief (it was a long story) synopsis of how the story went:
Santa has a tooting
problem. He decides to get help from
Scooby Doo. Scooby brings Santa a Scooby
snack (I guess to help with the tooting problem?). Santa then dies (from the Scooby snack?). But, ---teacher Hofmeister clarifies-- that
he does not die “on the cross.” Santa
eventually wakes up and is not dead after all (a reference to the resurrection?). All is fine and Santa
is able to deliver toys to the children.
Like me, probably
you never guessed that Santa, Scooby Doo and Jesus could all make it into the same story—did you? And, like me, maybe
you are wondering if I have a morally confused child? I really am not sure here on any of this… feedback?
I guess one thing I know for sure that this
illuminated for me: Lucy is certainly getting lots of information about
various people and images in our culture, and from our history. And maybe sometimes it is a bit confusing in
her little mind how to sort through all of it and make sense of it? And maybe playing in this world of make-believe
helps her process it and figure it out?
Yeah, we’ll go with that for now.
 |
| Getting ready to go to "Muffins with Mom" at our church. |
 |
| Helping make vegetable soup. |
 |
| Notice the apron. My mom made it for Lindsay many years ago; I treasure when Lucy wears it. |
Now, onto the world of reality....
My Dad was visiting his sister, my Aunt Buzzie, in Columbus and Lucy and I decided to take a day trip up for a visit:
 |
| Lucy loves her Papa Buzzelli! |
 |
| and Aunt Buzzie! |
 |
| and our familie's lifelong friends: Jack and Jackie! |
 |
| It was a wonderful visit, and so good to spend time with Aunt Buzzie! |
 |
| Color in this pic is weird, I know. But that is green icing... |
 |
| Lucy was enjoying a cupcake on St Paddy's day! |
Carry on creative Lucy..... Carry on!
