our neighbor had come over a few weeks earlier and found happy feet on the couch. she picked it up, looked at him in discust and offered her child the 'cat toy'. i know, the audacity! i know it must have shown all over my face how offended i was. i quickly looked to isaiah to see if he was okay. he was. and i said, 'cat toy!? oh, that is not a cat toy, that is our beloved happy feet, who sleeps with isaiah every afternoon and night and who also serves as isaiah's alter ego.' 'yeah but look at him!' she said. 'he's the velveteen rabbit to us, he's real' i said.
i was surprised by my reaction. i was surprised at how strongly i felt for the fred meyer purchase. i'm sure that played into why i decided to throw happy feet a birthday party.
we all baked cupcakes, martin style. the kids each got a spoon and at one point, after licking her spoon clean, alaythia dipped it into the batter again, not to stir, but to get more to eat! isaiah decorated the cupcakes and we waited for all the neighbors to wake up from their naps. we invited them to come down to a birthday party for happy feet and asked them to bring their favorite stuffed animal. some asked if they could bring their camera, others asked if we were serious.
i tried not to care if they thought i was crazy for doing it. i wanted to do it - for isaiah. so pushing through my insecurity, after all they don't know me that well. they don't know if i do this every week for my kids, have pretend birthday parties.... anyway, we sang happy birthday, had cupcakes, juice boxes and played, in honor of our beloved happy feet. and i was glad we did it.
p.s. jess and polly, i have not forgotten about the honor you have bestowed on me...i will do it. and i'm grateful for it!
9 comments:
Natalie, this story strikes such a chord with me. David had his beloved Tigger who also served as his best friend and alter ego. I remember searching the woods behind our house one dark night, because David thought Tigger would like an adventure, and left him out there. Of course, he couldn't go to bed until he had his friend back with him. Jonathan had his "Owergator", the alligator puppet that was the source of a tickle fight nearly every evening. I would have been just as angry as you were with your neighbor's reaction to Happy Feet. He is a member of the family, and always will be, even when the kids are grown and gone.
Love, Aunt Sandi :)
Answer: Lipstick!
Question: What is the difference between a mom of a kid with a beloved stuffed animal and a pitbull?
(Uncle G)
way to go, nat! LOVE THIS!
and i really want to deck that ignorant mom!
That's the best! Too bad "Baseball Player Number One Russell Martin" couldn't have attended the party with Justin.
I'm with Julie...I can go after her with my crutch!=0)
My boys would have thought that was the BEST party ever and would have been overjoyed to participate! Their "stuffed animal friends" are huge and they each have one that is "extra" special! What you did was so neat, loving, thoughful and FUN!! You go girl!
=0)
You win the fun mom award, for sure!
You are a seriously amazing mom. I love that you chose to go along with his pretend world and show him love in this way, awesome. Miss you guys.
i wish i were three years old again and that you were my mom!
I realize happy feet is real, but he needs a bath in the dishwasher, once a year or two.
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