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| She may have been a bit of an "accident", but she was meant to be! |
Lately we have been on a bit of a Puff the Magic Dragon theme. It was the middle of last year when I started singing Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary and I realised my kids were not familiar with it. What? That needed to be remedied, so I downloaded it (love iTunes!) and we listened. And cried!!! It has to be one of the most heart-breaking songs every recorded. Wombat Girl was in floods of tears and struggled to sleep with all those sad emotions. But she loved it.
For her birthday, she got a lovely "Puff" from her Aunty - she had it on her list and wants to make Honalee and a cave for it!
And for Christmas, I couldn't resist the new edition of the book:
...which also includes a new recording on CD.
And then I discovered the iPad app!! (there is also an Android version!). We enjoyed singing along to the animated version of the book as I combed the head lice out of my girl's hair (again). Made a miserable job bearable.
When my girl loves something, she loves it with her whole heart and unconditionally and probably forever!
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| Wilbur, Whitey, Oliseer, Furry - all tucked up |
She has a rather large collection of stuffed animals - I think 99% are named. And loved. And she refuses to let me "de-clutter" them!
* Update - Wombat Girl informs me that about 66.66% (that's two-thirds) have names, but that 100% are loved and she will be working on naming the rest *
Another of our favourite songs is "When She Loved Me" - written by Randy Newman and sung by Sarah McLachlan in Toy Story 2. It is the story of a doll that is adored in childhood, but abandoned in the teen years. There is also a stunning acapella version by Australian group Idea of North. I have been known to sing it to her when she is having trouble going to sleep.
Cue tears.
Just between you and me, I don't think Wombat Girl will ever have it in her to abandon her toys. They are loved so deeply and profoundly. They'll be around for a long while yet.
Love!
Oh, that's so sweet!
ReplyDeleteMy eyes teared up.
The essence of mama love.
Oh thank you Gabriella! We love a bit of a cry around here too :-)
DeleteOh I LOVE, love this post!
ReplyDeleteAnd I also love Peter, Paul, and Mary. My parents took me to see them in concert when I was a little girl and got to hear them sing that song live :)(It was my favorite too).
I am glad you let your daughter keep her stuffed toys. My daughter also loves to collect stuffed animals (she never played with dolls but would dress up her animals instead). Each one is loved in it's own special way and she knows exactly which one she wants to play with at certain times.
We read so much lately about simple living and decluttering but children are little for only so long and soon enough they will be packing up their own "Woody's and Buzz's" :(.
Thank you! How lucky are you to have seen PPM live?!!! There is no way I could clear that lot out - I was thinking the other day she needed another bookcase, then I turned around and remembered she already has one...just filled with stuffed toys!
DeleteShe never did the doll thing either. But those toys are carefully rotated and chosen and each gets a turn to be tucked in :-)
Oh my God. You have totally killed me with this one. Whew! Do not let her your yourself watch Toy Story 3... Promise me.
ReplyDeleteI love "When she loved me" so much. Didn't realise there was a cover version, but trust An Idea Of North. I'll be raiding our CD cupboard next visit (this to do list is getting long).
Which aunty got the dragon? Probably not the one I'm thinking of, and since I actually did scour this Christmas, I applaud who did manage.
Ummm - we saw Toy Story 3 in 3D at Imax...sorry!
DeleteYou were the one who introduced me to that song - I always think of you when I hear it!
It was Auntie Maz - she found it at some markets in Melbourne - hard to find!
Vinyl, champagne, Idea of North...sounds like a date!
I adore the "When she loved me" song from Toy Story 2. Stops me in my tracks everytime! Thank you for sharing...
ReplyDeleteIt is such a beautiful song, isn't it? Made my girl cry when she read the blog. Sniff.
DeleteHave you read "The Velveteen Rabbit"? I can't read it outloud.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to say for months that Wombat Girl is looking more and more like you.
A very long time ago - must get it (and the film's music is by George Winston - beautiful!). I struggled to read Anne of Green Gables out loud when Matthew died. And "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" is almost as bad/good - love this quote: "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." Sob.
DeleteAnd yes, there are some strong genes there - might do a post about that some day!