Winning Words Wednesday

This little guy sometimes gets a bad wrap for being a typical 4-year old--not listening or following directions or for making a mess.  So, I want to take the opportunity to remind everyone (okay, mostly myself) that he has such a GOOD heart and will grow out of the rest of it...I hope.  

He's very into pretend play these days, and is happy to explain "Mommy, I'm just pretending" when he's fully engaged in this activity.  The other day, during one such moment he told me:

Mommy, I will share my ice cream with all my friends and family.  If we're playing cowboys, I will share with my horse.  I will also share my popcorn with my horse when we watch movies together.  This is pretty huge because this kid can put away popcorn like nothing I have ever seen!

I told him how nice that was and how everyone likes it when he shares things.

...and then he went on:  "When we play cowboys, I'll be the cowboy, you can be the cowgirl (thank you, Boys Don't Cry, for the 1986 song that I still hear every time he says this), daddy will be the daddy cowboy, and Delaney will be the cowbaby."  a cowbaby?  Really?  ok.  

Wednesday's Winning Words

As is true with most little boys (it's innate, I swear), Justus is all about shooting things, sword fighting, crashing cars...all things destructive.  This has been fairly consistent since 1) an opportunity about a year ago to acquire a wooden rubber band shotgun that he still doesn't know shoots rubber bands, and 2) he's figured out that shooting, sword fighting, etc. creates that perfect imaginary world of good guys vs. bad guys ("I'm gonna shoot the bad guys" has been a favorite phrase lately).  In such games, he can ALWAYS be the good guy or hero.  Evidently, he didn't get the same recognition of achievement while playing dinosaurs and trains, so he's sorta moved on.  I suppose it's possible that his father's inclination to allow him to watch John Wayne movies may have some influence as well, but I couldn't say for sure.  

The other day, Justus was telling his dad that he was going to shoot the deer.  What deer?  We're not sure, just "the" deer.  He kept saying it over and over.  So, Kidd asked him why he wanted to kill the deer.  And Justus kept saying he was going to shoot the deer...and Kidd kept asking him why he wanted to kill the deer.  Justus finally said "Daddy, I don't want to kill the deer.  I want to shoot it."  There's something about that innocence I just love!  On the down side, we got a note home from school a few days ago that asked us to remind Justus that we don't play guns at school.  Do you think his teacher would be okay with it if we explained that he has no intention of killing anyone, just shooting them...and even then, only the ones that are playing the role of the bad guy??

Justus displays his latest sword acquisition at the circus.  Look how sweet that face is.  He wouldn't hurt a fly.