Imagination

Kids imaginations never shut off!!  I adore witnessing Blake, Emerson and Reese's imaginations at play!  With Blake, we witness his use of imagination most often while he is playing with trucks, cars, trains, Batman toys and LEGO but also when he is playing on the playground with other children.  His imagination takes form in playing out the roles of a police man/fire man/bad guy/robber/train conductor/race car driver/construction worker and other similar roles.  He will often take on 2 or 3 different roles when playing by himself!  Reese is starting to use her imagination, primarily with dolls, barbies and teddy bears!  She pretends they are crying and comforts them and pretends they need their diaper changed, etc.  So sweet to witness :)  But I would have to say that of the 3 kids, Emerson's imagination is the most vivid, or perhaps maybe she just expresses her imagination more freely!?  Regardless, we are constantly entertained by Emerson's imagination.  Mostly by her stories of her friend Belinda.  Belinda came into our life just this past summer.  In fact I remember the first time she mentioned Belinda.  It was one day after Once Upon a Princess camp.  Cal and I both assumed Belinda was a friend Em had made at camp but turns out there was no Belinda in the camp!  Belinda has been around ever since and Emerson's adventures with Belinda and her stories of Belinda's life are extravagant and hilarious at times!  For example, yesterday Emerson went to the dentist for a regular cleaning/check up.  She got a small goody bag when she left.  Today when I was getting ready to take the girls to Come Play With Me, Emerson had packed a few small toys into the plastic bag she got at the dentist.  She held it up and said, "I'm bringing this for Belinda.  We can drop it off at her house."  I asked her where Belinda lived and she quickly replied, "Not too far.  By Canadian Tire."  Okay!!  Once we got in the van she went on and on about how Belinda's daughter Madi was being bad and Belinda was chasing her around allllll day.  ALLLLL day long and Madi pooped in her pants and had an accident.  So I asked her if Madi wore diapers and she said she didn't, she was a big girl not a baby!  Emerson told me all about what Belinda was cooking for dinner and how Belinda likes to sometimes walk over to Emerson's house to play with her toys and have supper, etc, etc, etc!  This is just one story, they vary quite a bit from day to day and some days she doesn't talk about Belinda at all!  But it is fun to play along with and I'm glad she lets us participate ;)  I try to ask open ended questions and hope that all of this is fostering their creativity!!  Just one more fun side to parenting :)

xo Tracy