What a marvelous invention! Iconically, we have to nod to Disney’s use of the umbrella (talking, no less) to transport Mary Poppins into London in the movie that cemented his genius.
For Valentine’s Day this year, I bought all 3 of my kidlets umbrellas (replacing Firstborn’s first rather beat-up and beyond-repair one). Each child immediately applied his or her umbrella to a unique and personal use.
Firstborn, lacking any rain to test on the umbrella, opened it, turned it upside down, and began to load it with toys. At 6 years old, she is into packing random items from her room into any and all containers available. I had to disappoint her by pointing out that loading her umbrella would quickly reduce it to the state of her first one. She sadly unpacked it.
Boy-Twin was thrilled with his umbrella, “oh”ing and “ah”ing over the Buzz Lightyear on the handle. I demonstrated how to open it, which he mastered almost instantly (my mechanical boy who can open any deadbolt, making higher child locks a necessity). Then with no hesitation, he turned his umbrella into a weapon. First a sword, aimed as sisters. When I explained that the umbrella couldn’t touch anyone else, it morphed into a gun, complete with spot-on sound effects. Well, it wasn’t touching anyone!
Girl-Twin was characteristically hesitant. A new item almost always invokes her slow, careful perusal. Then when I opened it for her (she declined to try herself), she put it over her shoulder, twirled it like a parasol, and did her pretty princess dance (the same dance she does every time I put a dress or skirt on her). Hers is pink and covered with Disney princesses. Whom she can already name at 2-years-old. My girly-girl.
I know that my blog often stars my children and their differences. Probably because they are 3 such crazy-unique people and because I spend all of my waking hours caring for them, cleaning their messes, worrying about their futures, and planning for immediate needs. But also because I am constantly amused at how each one adapts a situation to their own worldview, even something as basic as an umbrella.
Hurray for letting Ashton be his boy-like self! I remember how as parents we discouraged Devin from using his weaponry, (whether invented or pretend), to kill "people" or harm others. He respectfully complied (at least in our presence). He has grown up with a healthy respect for others, but he's also an expert sharp-shooter Marine "knocking them dead" on the piano. HOO-Rah for imaginative, talented, and inventive sons!
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