Monday, December 14, 2009

A handle on it

I am, or I should be wrapping up the preparations for a very long trip. Because both of my boys have opted for last-minute low-grade fevers, (the sort where the pediatrician hesitates to have them come in), I have been even more frazzled than I anticipated. I am excited to spend some un-rushed time with family. It's the getting there (tomorrow!) that has me freaking out. (There's a crippling amount of freaking out going on inside my head).

This morning I was vaguely aware of Sir O watching a Super Why episode of Rumpelstiltskin. I have issues with kids being introduced to classic stories via weird and watered-down versions like this, primarily because most of them will never get exposed to the original text and they'll think what they experienced is it. BUT, Sir O still has a very low tolerance for suspense, so I've consigned myself to a need to spend a year or two reading him some Grimm brothers once he's old enough.

Then again, the story of Rumpelstiltskin has never sat well with me. Who wants to marry someone who threatened to kill you if you couldn't do something impossible? Where is there a remote chance of happiness in that? I spy serious dysfunction in that royal family.

The boys are getting lovely hardback versions of Peter Pan and The Secret Garden for Christmas. Which of course they will care nothing about for years, if ever. But there you have it. I am that kind of mother.

I must now put my shoulder to the wheel and pack and clean and pack some more. And nurse the semi-sick boys who have just enough energy to make messes. And cough and cough and cough because my cough has decided that it wants to live in my lungs forever.

and ever.

amen.

5 comments:

hairyshoefairy said...

Peanut has been pulling out a big, beautifully illustrated version of Rumpelstiltskin lately and loves having me read it to her. It's one my grandma gave me when I was little. Growing up I never noticed but now that I'm reading it to Peanut I've had the same thought you had. Why would she marry the man who threatened to have her killed? Whatever. Good luck getting ready to go. We're planning on the party in January and I'm so excited for it!

Carolanne said...

At least you won't feel guilty giving them cold medicine so they'll sleep through the flight! :)

And I've always wondered if the word "grim" came before or after those two brothers because I can't think of a better word for some of them.

Carolanne said...

some of them meaning their stories...

--jeff * said...

you are going to have brilliantly educated children. ...even before they're old enough to read subtitles.

(and while we're here, you don't need to read to enjoy buster keaton....)

Jessy and Adam Baird said...

Tomorrow?@ Ah! I hope we bget to see you guys!

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