dragon shield

One day about two months ago Ada started complaining that the dragons were going to eat her when we left her in her room after tucking her in at night. No explaining or pleading or reasoning was changing her mind - she was just flat out scared of the dragons. We managed to soothe her to sleep the first night this popped up, but I knew we were going to have to come up with something much more sturdy if we ever wanted Ada to put herself to sleep again.

We didn't want to squelch her imagination so we eliminated any solution that proved to her that dragons did not exist pretty early on. So, since we were stuck dealing with the dragons I came up with a few ideas and one GEM. Among the ideas were magic spells, and special routines she could follow - but not wanting to get her attached to some sort of OCD type behavior that would haunt her well into her teen years we finally landed on the GEM - the dragon shield!! It is nothing more than an extra bed sheet draped down from the top bunk of her bed. I have some how convinced her that this sheet is like a rubber shield that blocks all dragons. So even if the dragon manages to get in the house and past the strong fight that mommy and daddy are sure to put up - the dragon shield will bounce those suckers right out of her room.

Now if only we could create a cranky pants, random tantrum, and 'I'M HUNGRY' shields we would have absolute peace in our house.

reading

Ada has always loved books. We have read books at night on and off since she could hold her head up and feign interest in what we were reading. Recently however she has started to insist on 'reading' certain pages in each book. She doesn't actually know how to read - after all she still thinks Spiderman begins with an 'A' (all cool words start with A). But she comes extremely close - and I'm talking only off by an article here or there - to reciting a fair number of pages of each book from memory. The number of words and the quickness of her memorization - I'll say it - you can paint me proud.

It may seem odd but in a week where bright lights were few and far between - Ada learning and then reciting her favorite pages from 'A Porcupine named Fluffy' was like finding an extra present under the Christmas tree (one with a big pink and purple bow).