Usually on Saturday we try to do something fun as a family, but this Saturday Elijah had offered to help our stake youth in the temple. We had been invited to a birthday party at the park, so the children and I had some breakfast and went to celebrate Cale's 2nd birthday. The children had so much fun playing outside in the vast playground and I enjoyed the company of good women. Two interesting things happened at the park while playing and having fun. First, the children were treated to quite a show of special animals. This park was conveniently located near a life science museum, and some of the museum staff had brought out some of the animals that live in the museum. Gillian was delighted to see and learn about turtles, hawks, frogs, and Jefferson got to see his favorite, snakes. I know you'll be thinking that I really try to make every fun event a little bit educational, but I promise you I had nothing to do with it. I was so lazy bathing in the sun, that I hardly attended the animal show. I guess my fondness for knowledge has rubbed off on my kids. Secondly, Gillian had her first fight with one of her very good friends. They had a disagreement and then had slightly pushed each other. I understood the verbal fight. The girls are growing up and each has her own mind and likes and dislikes. What I wasn't prepared was the fact that they had actually pushed each other physically. They both come from very good families and both of them are smart and mature girls, so I couldn't fathom how they could have done such a thing. As I thought about it later, I realized that I wasn't actually upset about the push. I'm sure I've done it when I was young myself. It's one way girls show their independence. I think I wasn't prepared for the fact that my girl is growing up. She showed herself mature when immediately after she realized she had done wrong , she went and apologized to her friend. All this was done way before the story was told to me. So, not only she is growing up and having her own female drama, but she is solving them all on her own. I felt cut off. I'm glad she is mature enough to solve her own situations, but I tell you it is the hardest thing to let your girl grow up.
(I know this picture has nothing to do with what I'm writing on this post, but it's my favorite of all of the ones I took at the park)
Speaking about girls, my son paid me a sweet compliment today. We were having guests for dinner, and I was preparing the food, when Jefferson came down from his room. He looked me up and told me that I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Out of the blue! I asked him what prompted all this, and he said he liked me in the dress I was wearing. I was still wearing the dress I had worn for the park outing, wanting to feel cool, and of course Jefferson was so taken by friends and snakes, that he hadn't had a chance to look me up then. Nevertheless, I thanked him, and started thinking what is it with men that like to see women in dresses. My husband loves it when I wear dresses around the house whether I'm cooking, cleaning or just lounging. I usually get angry when he asks me to wear dresses, because I feel like he wants me to be like one of those picture happy women with dresses and aprons on vacuuming. Do you know what I'm talking about? Well, listen to this. I was so surprised that while I was thinking all of this, I realized I actually liked being in a dress while cooking and doing dishes. I wanted to feel glamorous even though I was changing a dirty diaper or feeding some yukky mashed peas to my infant child. All this time I had misunderstood my husband. He just wanted me to feel happy in anything I did. I guess growing up never ends. So, shopping, here I come!
(I don't actually look good in this picture, but just because Jefferson liked me enough to take a picture of me, I have to put it in here.)
