Deep Thoughts

No, not "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handey. ;)  I'm talking about the most fascinating of all deep thoughts:  toddler deep thoughts. Some of them are completely random. They may make no sense. They may make eerily perfect sense. They may come from a place so deep and profound inside your child that perhaps you didn't know it existed.

Wherever they come from, they sure are intriguing.

I think my deepest thoughts while I have some "uckles"

As Anna grows and matures, the workings of her little brain get more and more complex. And her personality...well, it speaks for itself.  Here are some recent examples.

A totally random thought:  I am washing dishes and Anna comes up to me with a serious look on her face. "Mom, I need to talk to you about something," she says urgently. "Okay," I say expectantly. "Zebras are not elephants, mom," she announces with a severity that makes sure I'll never make that silly mistake again.  Not that I ever made it, but who cares. "You're right, honey," I say, commending her for sharing this important truth with me.

Don't tell that to this guy! (from worth1000.com)

When she walks out of the room, I have a good laugh. When this happens, it's not what she says that is the funniest part, it's how she says it - as if the most profound and important thing ever is about to escape her lips. And who knows, maybe it is!

A "familiarizing myself with my body" thought:  Anna is eating strawberry sorbet when she abruptly smacks her hand to her forehead. "Ahhh, I've got a brain field!" She yells, looking perplexed. "And it'll never go away, ever ever! And then I can't have ice cream ever again!"

I hug her and assure her that, in fact, her brain freeze will be over in a second. She eyes me doubtfully.....but sure enough, a few minutes later, she smiles as if surprised and tells me that it's gone so she can eat ice cream after all. That's a relief! And I think I like brain field better than brain freeze.

An "I'll do anything to get out of bedtime" thought:  We are presently trying to develop a new bedtime routine that we hope will (a) get Anna to sleep in her own bed most of the time, and (b) give me some - gasp! - free time in the evening, which I never get but really need.  So Anna is in her bed with the lights out and the movie "Monsters Inc." is almost over. She calls me into her room and begs me to stay for a few minutes, which I've already done several times.

I give her a big hug and say, "I can't stay right now, I am having grown-up time watching a movie with Mama Heidi. But I'm right here if you need me."  Anna: "But I miss you when you go! But I love you!"  Me: "I love you and I miss you too, but I still need some grown-up time. That doesn't mean I don't love you. I love you very much."  Anna: "But...but...you're mine!" Me: "Yes, I'm your mom, but I like to see Mama Heidi sometimes too." (I know, most people would've left by this point. I just can't do it.)

Anna: "But you can't go away somewhere else and leave me!"  I can't help but laugh. Me: "Honey, I'm never leaving you. I'm not even leaving the house. I'm just in the living room."

I kiss her forehead and start to walk out of the room, when I feel a little hand tugging at mine, and with a mix of emotion and concentration, and a pleading look in her big brown eyes, she says, "But I need my best friend! You're my best friend." (Right as the song, "I Wouldn't Have Nothing If I Didn't Have You" from the movie credits is playing in the background - perfect timing.)

You couldn't resist that smile either - guaranteed.

At this point, I laugh and scoop her up in my arms. Even Heidi is laughing from the other room. What happens? I carry my little best friend into our bed to snuggle and fall asleep. She smiles as if to say, "I know how to play you - sucker!"

A deep deep thought:  We are driving to school the other morning when, out of the blue, Anna says, "I don't want you to ever get dead." Me, wondering why this came up first thing in the morning: "I don't want to get dead either."  Anna: "So don't get dead then."  Me: "Well, honey, everybody dies sometime. But unless someone gets really sick or hurt, most people die when they're older. I hope to stick around till I'm older."

Anna: "I don't want you to get dead because then I'll have to live with just Mama Heidi and Kelsey and I won't have you to snuggle with ever again and I would miss you forever. That's why I don't want you to get dead."

Me: "I don't want to die either, but if something ever happened to me, Mama Heidi would take great care of you."  Anna: "And Kelsey too."  Me: "Yes."  Anna: "But try not to get dead, okay?"  Me: "I'll do my best."

I couldn't help but scratch my head about where in the world this came from; after all it's been a long time since the untimely demise of Nemo the betta fish (see "I Want My Fish Back!"). The only thing I can figure is that the recent car door incident on the highway freaked her out enough that this has been on her mind. And while I don't want her to worry, my impulse is to think....good. Because I never want that damn door to open while we are moving ever again. Sometimes a little fear is healthy.

Please feel free to share some of your kids' surprising or humorous deep thoughts. Their minds are absolutely fascinating!!