Tia says that the other day Mago was in a sour mood, and came upstairs fussing and grumbling. Great-grandpa came to him and pouted, condescendingly, “What’s the matter? You’re always happy! you’re always happy!” Mago sourly insisted “No I’m not!” as Tia swooped him away from this awful scene and took him somewhere else to say “Don’t listen to grandpa. It’s okay to be sad. You can be sad.” At this his restraint unshackled and he burst into tears.
The statement “You’re always happy!” Is many kinds of wrong. First, it’s factually untrue. No human is completely devoid of sorrow. Second, it’s an absurd and injurious proposal which sends a message that it’s not okay to ever be sad. It’s an inhuman expectation. And to pour this expectation on a grandson of two years!? I’m grateful Tia has the good sense she showed to counter it. And how very revelatory of grandpa – maybe he feels that he can’t or shoulnd’t ever be sad himself. Well, how sad for him.
Several days ago Mago called his cousin and spoke endlessly about dad’s birthday cake (and my lack of post on my recent birthday and Tia’s last is only negligence) and lighting and blowing the candles. He did this for many minutes until Tia decided to end the call, which made Mago very sad. He went and got the phone again, announced that he was calling his cousin, punched random numbers into it, then held the phone up to Tia and said “Is this her number?”
Last evening we went for a walk and came across a lone young deer (see the last entry) foraging in a scrubby and wild field. It seemed remarkably tame as it remained calm at a mere twenty or so yards from us even while we approached. Mago had first spotted it, and as we watched it he commented: “..and we [the deer and I] love each other.. it wagged it’s tail! .. it needs a diaper change from its mommy.”
Maybe a month or two ago – and I’d kept meaning to write it down, and I think I haven’t – he was pretending to be an order-taker at a restaurant. Tia commented that she’s sad his knowledge of “restaurant” is equated with a fast food drive-through. Anyway, playing this after his bath, he stood outside the bathroom door as Tia was still inside, and opening the door he said:
“Do you want some chicken?” (this last word he said in a very chipper, bright, quick way)
Tia replied “No, I don’t want any chicken, thank you.”
“Pleeeeeeaaase?”
“Oh, okay, I would like some chicken.”
Mago pretended to hand her some chicken, Tia said “Thank you!” and then Mago said “Thank you for the restaurant!” and quickly closed the door.