What do you mean?
We took the kids to a museum today. It was a history type museum, and had a lot of objects and information on the history of them, etc. Not really a "hands on" kind of place, but the kids were quite good.
One of the things they had on display were a number of historical costumes, as in, actual historical garments from the late 19th and early 20th century. I told the kids they weren't to touch, only look, because handling the fabric can damage it. In the car on the way home, Miranda confessed that she had touched something she wasn't supposed to touch (a swimming costume from the 1880s; I very much doubt she did it any harm). The conversation went like this:
Dad: Well, you probably didn't hurt it. But you're right, you shouldn't have done it. Now just remember this and don't touch things in the future.
Miranda (with an exasperated tone of voice): What do you mean in the future? I can't touch things in the future?
(At that point, I didn't hear the rest of the conversation because I was laughing too hard...)
Life Decisions
Miranda: I want to take ballet lessons. I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.
Me: I thought you wanted to be a Commonwealth Games swimmer?
Miranda: I want to be a swimmer and a ballerina.
Me: Hmmm. I think that could be very difficult. Both of those things are very time-consuming. I don't think you'd be able to do both.
Miranda: Oh. Well. I'm just confused about what I want to be when I grow up!
Me: That's perfectly okay. You're only five. When I was five I wanted to be a cowgirl.
Miranda: Really?
Me: Yes. But then I found out it was very hard work and I decided to be a ballerina, instead.
Miranda: Just like me!
Me: Yes. That's the sort of thing you want to do when you're five.
Miranda: I still think I can be a swimmer and a ballerina...
Life Decisions
Miranda: I want to take ballet lessons. I want to be a ballerina when I grow up.
Me: I thought you wanted to be a Commonwealth Games swimmer?
Miranda: I want to be a swimmer and a ballerina.
Me: Hmmm. I think that could be very difficult. Both of those things are very time-consuming. I don't think you'd be able to do both.
Miranda: Oh. Well. I'm just confused about what I want to be when I grow up!
Me: That's perfectly okay. You're only five. When I was five I wanted to be a cowgirl.
Miranda: Really?
Me: Yes. But then I found out it was very hard work and I decided to be a ballerina, instead.
Miranda: Just like me!
Me: Yes. That's the sort of thing you want to do when you're five.
Miranda: I still think I can be a swimmer and a ballerina...
Swimming and stuff
Miranda started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. She's been doing well. Her teacher is a young man, Lachlan, maybe 22 or 23 years old, and his patience is apparently infinite. He's a very good teacher, really excellent with the little kids.
At first, Miranda wouldn't put her face in the water at all. This is understandable, but it's a bit of a hinderence. Lachlan, however, very cleverly got her used to the idea and she was a bit more game to at least try it. What finally got her to do it, though, was the Commonwealth Games.
She informed her father that she wanted to swim in the Commonwealth Games. He said, "That's an excellent goal, but you're going to have to put your face in the water if you want to swim in the Commonwealth Games." The very next lesson, she put her face in the water, and she's been getting more and more willing to do it ever since.
So one day we may have an elite athlete in the family! Or not. I'll just be happy if she can swim.
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