Merry Christmas

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

If I wish you a Merry Christmas, please don't think that I assume that no one celebrates any holiday at this time of year other than Christmas. I certainly don't presume that you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, or believe that He is the Savior of the world. I think half (at best) of the people who celebrate Christmas really celebrate Santa, trees, baked goods and presents. Which is fine for them.

When I wish you a Merry Christmas, I merely wish you the spirit of the season: Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards men. Family togetherness, a time for putting aside differences, that warm fireside glow. Isn't that what all the PC shouting is about? Goodwill toward men? Overlooking our differences?

When I pray, I pray in the name of Jesus. I mean no offense to anyone who doesn't share the conviction that there is power in His name. But if you're not going to let me pray in His name, then you might as well not let me pray at all. Feel free to pray to whomever you choose, and kindly allow me the same courtesy.

Celebrate what and when you like. Believe what you wish. But don't tell me I can't do the same.

Happy birthday Jesus, and Merry Christmas!

Spelunking

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

"Dark cave, dark cave." He grabs my hand and drags me to the closet. He pushes me inside and closes the door. Satisfied, "dark cave."
I invited him in and showed him how to close the closet doors from the inside. We spent 15 minutes or so playing in there.
He has since discovered that the hall bath is nice and dark when you close the door. So all visitors are now taken by the hand to the "dark cave" and expected to sit there with him and do who knows what for however long it takes.
Hard hats not provided; enter at your own risk.

Fear the Woodpecker

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I have a child who isn't afraid of anything. Not that he's particularly bold; he likes to investigate things as opposed to jumping right in. But he's just the right combination of confident and curious (particularly in a familiar environment) to keep me on my toes.

Lately though he's developed a fear, and like most children's fears I assume, it is completely irrational. He has become terrified of woodpeckers.

We have a woodpecker that hangs out in our neighborhood, probably on our street, though I've never seen it. (Nonni claims to have spotted it and said it is a red-headed woodpecker, but she's been known to confuse elk for moose so I reserve judgement on the type. We're all in agreement that it is a woodpecker.) Afternoons when we go play out front, we usually hear him tapping away at whatever he's perched on.

The first time we heard him, Duke stopped in his tracks and looked around. The second time he stopped and ran to my chair, hanging out by my side for a few minutes saying "Woodpecker?" and very seriously gazing around. When I realized that he was afraid of the woodpecker I tried to explain that it was just a bird. I looked one up in his book and showed it to him. No help.

Now, every time I suggest putting on our shoes to go outside, his first response is "woodpecker?" Yesterday when we were out, the woodpecker was doing his usual thing, and Duke had his usual response- running straight-faced over to my chair and hanging on the arm rest. But he added something to his routine. He started saying "bite. bite. bite."

So I think he believes the woodpecker is some dangerous creature that bites. On the other hand, he'd be thrilled to meet a dinosaur or a dragon, so I guess it's best not to take kids' fears too seriously.