Dear Kid,

Not only is there magic in our everyday lives (for a reminder, see Notice the Magic Before It Disappears), there is magic in nature.

This time of year, there is magic in the crocuses and daffodils fighting their way through the last of winter. There is magic in the delight a warm day manages to spread over all of us. There is magic in each bud that unfurls (how does nature get all of those buds so equally perfect?).

And of course, there is nature’s magical way of making us all sneeze simultaneously.

I love spring (not so much the spring allergies, but it’s the price we pay in the Midwest). I love watching the way the trees and plants come to life slightly more each day. I love hearing the birds discuss the joys of being alive in spring. I love the way the deer wander through the front yard, heading directly for the tasty tulip leaves. (I joke, I do not exactly love sharing the tulips with the deer, but I don’t dis-love it enough to stake out the front garden and hand out reprimands. That will come later in the season.)

Behold! It is the Springtide of the Year (and all that).

The weather is magical. Warm one minute, frigid the next. Bam! Magic.

I love looking for babies in spring. The baby chipmunks that pop up to see if mom and dad are around. The baby bunnies so tiny they can hide in the lawn (especially if we’re a little behind on the mowing). The baby birds who demand mom and dad bring home dinner. The baby deer who freely help themselves to whatever they can reach (OK, not the parent deer, but the babies I will share with).

None of these babies are around yet. It’s still too early. But that doesn’t stop me from looking for them. Remind me to plan a trip to the zoo for Zoo Babies later in the spring.

It’s spring, it’s the season of renewal, and I think it’s magical.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

March 20^th is not for the faint of heart.

March 20^th is for those who grab the world, hold on for dear life, and yell “Spin, baby, spin!”

Not only is it the First Day of Spring (Happy Vernal Equinox!), and not only is it International Earth Day (Happy Earth Day!), it is (wait for it) Extraterrestrial Abduction DAY!

Yes, it is a day to celebrate the possibility of being snatched by aliens of the intergalactic variety. It is a day to send messages back to the mothership saying you’re ready to Phone Home.

Combined it’s the Vernal Alien Earth Abduction Day. Which means you should really watch out for extraterrestrials scooping up the planet while grabbing some Reece’s Pieces.

Happy March 20^th! (with luck, spring will get the message that it’s time to show up and ET will forget to snatch anyone you know).

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

His Furriness is having  a tough spring.

Me: Come on, sweetie, Get Busy
Puppy (whispering): But Mom, Cobra’s walking with us today
Me: Yes, he is. Get Busy
Puppy (still whispering): I can’t poop in front of Cobra!
Me: Why not? He poops too
Puppy: I’ve never seen him poop
Me: Trust me on this
Puppy: This is humiliating

Puppy: What are you doing?
Me: Weeding
Puppy: You’re digging up plants
Me: I’m digging up the plants we don’t want
Puppy: When I dig up plants I don’t want it’s called digging and it’s bad
Me: Yup
Puppy: That’s not fair
Me: That’s weeding

Puppy: That’s my leash
Me: Uh-huh
Puppy: That’s my other leash
Me: Yup
Puppy: I only need one leash to go outside
Me: You’ve been chasing cats
Puppy: Only when I see them
Me: You have to stay on our property
Puppy: I do!
Me: Not when you see a cat
Puppy: Well, that’s different
Me: So the leashes go together and the rope goes here and you stay on our property
Puppy: Who is going to chase the cat?

Puppy: That’s my brush!
Me: It is
Puppy: You brushed me yesterday
Me: It’s Spring
Puppy: But you brushed me yesterday
Me: You have moved from Off Season Training status to Full Time Competitive Shedding mode. You will be brushed again.
Puppy: It’s hard to patrol for cats when you’re being brushed

Me: Please stop sitting on the tulips
Puppy: I’m sitting nicely
Me: Yes, but you’re squishing the tulips
Puppy: I’m quite comfortable
Me: I’m sure you are, but I prefer unsquished tulips. Come look at a worm or something
Puppy: I’m good
Me: But you’re sitting on the tulips which is not good
Puppy: I really have to move?
Me: Release the flower, dog
Puppy: Fine. I’ll sit on the hyacinth

Love, Mom

For more puppy conversations, check out New Puppy Conversations, Puppy Conversations, and More Puppy Conversations

Dear Kid,

Puppy: It’s time to get up
Me: I am up
Puppy: You’re lying on the floor
Me: I’m snuggling you
Puppy: But it’s time to get up!
Me: I’m very comfortable
Puppy: Up, up, up!
Me: Ok, ok. I’m getting up
Puppy: You don’t want to snuggle me?

Puppy: What are you getting out of the cabinet?
Me: A container for my lunch
Puppy: What else are you getting out of the cabinet?
Me: Not sure I’m getting anything else out
Puppy: There are treats in that cabinet
Me: Hmmm, there certainly are
Puppy: I thought you might have forgotten
Me: I haven’t forgotten
Puppy: So……
Me: Do you need a treat?
Puppy: Well, I wouldn’t say no
Me: Here you go
Puppy: Look how nicely I’m taking this.
Me: Yes, you are a very good boy.
Puppy: Good enough for another treat?

Puppy: Mom
Me: Yes, sweetie
Puppy: Mom, Mom, Mom
Me: Yes, sweetie, what do you need?
Puppy: Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom
Me: I’m right here. What do you need?
Puppy: There are noodles on the counter
Me: Yes, there are
Puppy: I can smell them
Me: I’m sure you can
Puppy: Can I have some?
Me: No, they are not for you.
Puppy: Please?
Me: No.
Puppy: Please, please, please, please, please. I love noodles. I love noodles.
Me: I know you do. But they’re not for you.
Puppy: Come with me, I’ll show you
Me: You don’t have to show me
Puppy: But I LOOOOOOVE noodles.
Me: You love all food. This is not for you.
Puppy: This is my sad face.

Me: Come over here, Puppy. Time to cut your nails.
Puppy: Nah, I’m good, thanks
Me: Come on over, sweetie.
Puppy: I’m very busy not going over there.
Me: I have treats
Puppy: Huh?
Me: I have the Really Good treats
Puppy: They smell so good!!!!!!
Me: You get one if you come over here
Puppy: Well, I might have a minute

Puppy: Mom!
Me: Mmmm?
Puppy: I smell Spring!
Me: You do?
Puppy: Yes, and I rolled in it just for you!
Me (pause): Oh, honey. That is Definitely Not the smell of spring.

Off to Bath Time.

Love, Mom

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Dear Kid,

Today is the first day of May. This is an indisputable fact. Isn’t it nice to have an actual fact here?

In many cultures, May Day was/has been/is celebrated as a Spring Rite. (Not to be confused with the ballet*, although there was frequently dancing around a maypole.)

The most interesting fact I found is that in Hawaii May Day is also known as Lei Day. Lei Day was invented in the 1920s and is a day to celebrate Hawaiian island culture and spring.

Which is particularly interesting since originally February 1^st was considered the first day of spring, making May 1^st the first day of summer and midsummer (the summer solstice) the end of June and an excellent time for dreaming*. (Keep up—these are excellent arts references.)

So on the one hand we have a happy little pagan-based holiday, May Day, celebrating warmth, spring, the return of the flowers, and dancing ribbons. And with the removal of one little space, we have Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! the distress callsign. Turns out the mayday signal was invented in 1923 (are you taking notes?) in London, not as an insult to spring, but because the French phrase “venez m’aider” means “come help me.”

Mayday as a distress call must always be said 3 times, and it is about 12 kinds of illegal (and stupid) to use it in jest. Since I have no interest in visiting you in jail for 6 years and the fine is waaaay more than your tuition AND it would be bad for you to be in Real Distress, let’s just stick with celebrating spring, ‘k?

Happy May Day, kid.

Love, Mom

*Notes:
Igor Stravinsky’s ballet, The Rite of Spring
Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream