Letter to my children: Greased Pigs and Loud Yawns

Dearest Beloveds,

We were a puppy pile in bed early on Saturday morning. Two of us were giggling and wrestling while the other two snuggled deep and soft in the expansive warmth. Your father extricated himself from tickling limbs and sat up. “Okay children, it is time to get dressed for breakfast. Who is ready?”

Dragon fired a response, “I am as ready as a greased pig!”

A pause.

“Please say that again, my love. That is amazing.”

“Dragon is a greased pig!” Bean squealed.

A hesitant smile creeped across your face. Your cheeks flushed. A feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment radiated off your small pajamaed body.

“I AM AS READY A GREASED PIG!”

It was your mantra for the weekend. “Ready as a greased pig/Hungry as a greased pig/Tired as a greased pig.”

Milking a trope was in the air.

Three days later, during school time, Bean, you yawned - loudly. Your whole body was involved in the stretching of your cheek muscles.

You shook yourself off.

“I think someone just heard me in India.”

“I am sorry, can you say that again?”

“I do huge yawns.”

I burst out laughing. Just like Dragon - your body transformed as you realized you made a joke that worked. A glow. An arch smile. Self-satisfaction rolled off of you.

For the rest of the lesson every yawn or burp or cough or stretch was accompanied by a geographical editorial. “All the way from Australia!” “They heard that from Japan.”

To watch you both alter your behavior based on reactions from others in the context of greased pigs and loud yawns hurts you nor anyone else. It is fun and wonderful. As your focus shifts from being parent focused to being peer focussed I hope that it stays on that level - hurting neither you nor anyone else. A momma prayer to the Universe.