My son’s last grandparent passed away a couple of weeks ago. Almost exactly two years since his mum died. Six weeks before his mums death his other granny had passed away. So much death for someone so young.
The service was at the same place his mum was cremated. I was really concerned about how he would cope. He actually did ok. Well on the outside he was ok. On the inside I’m sure he was completely not ok. He was really quiet and distant for much of the day. Then on the way home he became more talkative. He didn’t want to talk about the service, he wanted to think about other things. He spent the next four hours talking about top 3 lists. He frequently compiles these, it seems like it’s a place he can visit which is safe and which he can fully control.
Top 3 Dinosaurs
- Spinosaurus
- Velociraptor
- T-Rex
Top 3 Wrestlers
- Kane
- A J Styles
- Edge
Top 3 Bands/Stars
- David Bowie
- Alter Bridge
- Kiss
Top 3 Living Creatures
- Peregrin Falcon
- Polar Bear
- Wolves
Top 3 fears
- Giraffes
- Cows
- Crowds
Top 3 funny shows
- Simpsons
- Horrible Histories
- Gravity Falls
And the lists went on and on. With each passing list his mood continued to lift. Then he said it’s about time my dad featured on one of the lists. For a few nano seconds I pictured myself competing for top spot with the likes of George Clooney or Dwayne Johnson. But clearly from my son’s cheeky smile, I was looking at the wrong end of the gene pool.
Top 3 Idiots
- Homer Simpson
- Dad
- Patrick (from Spongebob)
Not sure how to take the last list. I suppose at least I’m behind Homer, but really, in front of Patrick.
Giraffes
Cows
Two of my favorites! I went all the way to SCOTLAND just to see ‘raffes!!
*sniffle*
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He will happily have a snake around his neck but won’t go near a cow or giraffe.
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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhah! sounds like a fun kid!!
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He is
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So sorry for your loss. Love the lists – especially yours. Made me smile 🙂
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He’s just made me watch an episode of Spongebob. Patrick said “is mayonnaise an instrument”. Didn’t make me feel and better.
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Hahaha – Band Geeks – I love that episode 🙂 I love his sense of humor 🙂
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You know your Spongebob well. His humour is the thing that keeps me going. I just wish he would get the opportunity to let others see this humour.
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I do! When Declan was 2 and 3 Spongebob was on the TV on repeat. Declan didn’t pay attention to much – he didn’t sit for anything. But he liked it on. His therapist told me that with all the flashing colors and sounds it was sensory pleasing to him. Anyway – I at least listened to a lot of Spongebob 🙂 Yes, he sounds like he has a great personality. Be great if he would share it 🙂
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When my son was a toddler he would only have Spongebob and the old Banana Splits on. Always wondered why it was those two shows.
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So, what’s wrong with cows? Just out of curiosity…
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He’s never liked them. He will happily handle snakes and spiders but just petrified of cows. Don’t know why.
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Aww, the humor during difficult times. My condolences and I hope he continues to make more lisys:).
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Thank you. It’s kind of reassuring that I can only drop one more place on the idiot list.
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Lol 😂.
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I’m sorry for your loss. Your son is amazing and I admire his coping skills 🙂
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Thanks, he’s had too much to deal with, but it always amazes me that he’s found a way to get through it.
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He has a good father, I can tell. 😔
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Thank you.
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Aww poor old Dad’s. 🙂
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I’m trying to get a T-shirt made saying something like I make Patrick look clever.
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Lol. Good one. ❤ ❤
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Thanks
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You must be doing a good job as a dad! 🙂
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Thanks. It really helps when you’ve got great kid.
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I only discovered your blog tonight, as you had liked one of my posts and I came to check out yours. I am left in tears, but also with so much admiration for the challenges you are facing. Parenting … sigh … it doesn’t come with instructions and we all make more mistakes than we’d like, but if we care, if we teach our children to care, in the end it works … somehow. I think, just from what little I’ve read, that you are an awesome dad and your son is going to be just fine. Two thumbs up to you!
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Thank you so much. Teaching our kids to care is so important. I’m also trying to teach my son to learn from mistakes and wow, it feels like I’ve got quite a few examples to demonstrate this.
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I know just what you mean! I’m still trying to teach mine, and she’ll be 48 this month! 😊
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My dad used to day they start calming down at 60.
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Ha ha … your dad was a very wise man! 😉
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He was. I suspect he’s always shaking his head at me – especially at the state of the garden.
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Nah … I suspect he was wise enough to know that there are more important things to be attended to at the moment. Anyway … weeds aren’t so bad …
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Weeds are good. They help to cover the mole and dog holes.
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You are very good father 🙂
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Thank you. Not sure my son would agree sometimes.
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Well I am sure your son knows what a wonderful father you are!
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Thank you
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I am sorry for your loss.
I love the way your son tricks his mind into thinking about other things. And oh well… At least you didn’t end up at #1 😉
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Still time for no 1.
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Condolence
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Thanks
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