Entwined

O: Mama, do I have a cockatoo?
Me: No, sweetie, you don't.
O: Oh.
(pause)
O: Can I have a cockatoo when I grow up? And can we have a hanger outside for him to sit on?
Me: Sure, sweetie, if you want a cockatoo when you grow up, you can have one.
O (this time to M): When we grow up do you want to have a cockatoo?
M: Can I have a whale?

*****************************************************

As amusing as this exchange was, what I find most remarkable is that as she thought about that mysterious time when she would be "grown up" O turned to M to ask if she'd want a cockatoo as well. They've never been apart. They've always slept in the same room, eaten at the same time, played together. In their little three-year-old minds they're going to be together forever, sitting across the table from each other coloring even when they're grown up. Yet, somehow, O recognizes that M is a different person to whom she has to *ask* if M wants a cockatoo, too. It's completely fascinating to watch these little creatures.

The banter continued for a while longer with O talking at length about the mommy cockatoo and baby cockatoo they were going to have someday. Then, suddenly, they started pretending they were penguins.

Comments

LisaBe said…
well, they *do* have great taste: penguins are my favorite animal (well, maybe after dogs, possibly after cats--but my favorite wild animal), and cockatoos are way cool. you should show them the youtube video of the dancing one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s
who wouldn't want one of those?
November 28, 2007 at 3:13 PM
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