Tuesday, July 19, 2011

jack and the magic toadstool

Children are curious critters.  They spend every day exploring their little worlds, checking out what is new and unique.  I call it "getting into stuff" for lack of a better term, because more often than not, we have to drag their little butts back to a safe learning level.

My grandson Jack is no exception.

We have had lots of rain.  Lots.  Almost every day we have had a thunderstorm.  This has been one of the rainiest summers I can remember.  All this rain brought a surprise the other day.

There, in the middle of my front yard, was a crop of toadstools.  As adults, we know they are poisonous.  At least I think they are.  (It was what I was told as a child.  I guess mom thought I might eat one.)  So imagine our horror when Jack came into the house the other morning with one of the biggest toadstools I have ever seen in his hands.  I heard Steve holler at him first: "put that down it's POISONOUS!"  Steve wasn't hollering because he was angry.  That is just his normal tone of voice.  (His hearing isn't what it used to be so hollering back and forth when we talk is normal around here.)

I walked into the living room and Jack lifted his prize up to my face.  "Look what I found Grammy!"

I recoiled in horror, grabbed it from him and threw it in the garbage as I explained how POISONOUS a toadstool was.  Then I told him to go wash his hands.

After I threw it away, the guilt set in.  Jack was trying to show us his discovery, and Steve and I reacted like grandparents.  I had just effectively squashed the learning process.  How could I fix this?

Then I had an idea.  I grabbed Big Girl and Jack and I went out in the front yard.  I took photos of the toadstools, and of Jack with them.  And as I shot, I explained about them, how they come out only when there are certain conditions, like lots of rain and less sun.  Then Jack dropped the bombshell.

"We got to go get that one you threw away and put him back with his family Grammy."

I was looking at toadstools.  And Jack was seeing what I was telling him with a child's eye and mind.  He saw that gathering in the yard as a family that had come to visit.

So I explained to Jack that once you pull one up, you can't put it back.  He listened quietly as I explained.  And didn't say anything.

I think we both learned some important life lessons today.  And we taught each other.

Life.  Death.  And magic toadstools.




~cath xo
Twitter @jonesbabie

31 comments:

  1. What a sweet story! Well written Cath!

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  2. Everytime I think of mushrooms and toadstools I think of faeries, we used to see them a lot when I was growing up. My mum told me never to touch them because I would disturb the faeries and then they would be homeless. I hadn't thought of that for a long time until I read this. Loved the sentiments and how sweet is your grandson, to think the way he did.

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  3. Love the pics, love the story and LOVE the reaction to the toadstools! I had so forgotten about good ole' toadstools and the reaction one has when they either pick them up or see a kid picking them up!

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  4. Love the story and Jack's thoughts on it!

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  5. I am a Fan. Well written and Not Boring. Good Job

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  6. Wonderful, wonderful story. You have to love a child's eyes and perspective.

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  7. You should be proud of Jack and yourself! You took a mistake and turned it into a positive experience for your relationship.

    http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/

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  8. Cath, I found this entry so honest, refreshing, and enchanting. You took what could have been a lost, teachable moment and redeemed it. Way to go! Way to write such a touching piece about it, too. Looking forward to following your blog!
    http://marthaorlando.blogspot.com

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  9. Wonderful insight, Cath. Sometimes we really need to slow down to listen to the little ones and surprise even ourselves with how much there is to learn from them and how they see (truly SEE) the world :-)

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  10. Great story Cath! Love it. So cute =)

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  11. @jerened thanks j! I always appreciate the feedback!

    @SJ thanks for the comment. What a wonderful story you were told as a child! The things we learn that way are never forgotten.

    @Janine I had no idea there were toadstools in the yard until I saw that one in Jack's hands! Glad you enjoyed the post. :)

    @vix thanks sissy! xoxo

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  12. @Kathleen Kiser
    Thanks Kathleen. I appreciate your comment!

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  13. @Thom Brown Thanks Thom. Would that we could all keep a child's view of the world! :D

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  14. @JIM Thanks Jim! I had to think quick. No self respecting grammy wants to fail! :D

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  15. @Martha J. M. Orlando Thank you so much for the kind remarks. I appreciate it, and the follow! :)

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  16. @Joy Page Manuel Thanks Joy! There are some great lessons to be learned from children. Out of the mouths of babes... :)

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  17. What a cool story!

    My grandma used to take me out worm-hunting after rain storms - I still think about it and I still pick up earth worms from the side walk and toss them into the dirt so they don't dry up...

    I love it.

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  18. I always had a fear of mushrooms because of all the stories heard as children about toadstools. And during my childhood mushrooms were not available where we lived anyway. That has changed in recent years and I love eating mushrooms. But a toadstool will always be associated with fairy tales and magic and yes, even death. How beautifully you turned this in to a learning experience for Jack. He'll remember this for a long time - not just what happened, but the love behind it. Thank you, Cath. You've inspired me this morning :)

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  19. What a beautiful post. I have always been fascinated by toadstools.Every time I see one I imagine I will see a fairy flitting by.

    http://rimlybezbaruah.blogspot.com/2011/07/questions.html?spref=gr#close=1

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  20. I love my grandchildren, they teach me so much about life - great post Cath :)

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  21. What a gorgeous story of love and learning!

    Thank you for sharing this with us ❤

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  22. I sometimes wish I was a kid again! Wonderful story.

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  23. @eRmOdi I used to love the way worms would come out during a storm, so much fun to watch. And of course, we used worms to fish. :D
    Thanks for the comment!

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  24. @Corinne Rodrigues Thanks so much for your comments Corinne. I hope Jack remembers the positive from this experience. :D

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  25. @Rimly
    Thanks for such a nice comment Rimly. I appreciate it.
    :D

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  26. @Maureen Hunter I learn something new all the time from my grandkids Maureen. They are wonderful little teachers. :D Thanks for the comment.

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  27. @Bec Owen And thank you for your comment. I am glad you enjoyed it.:D

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  28. @MuMuGB I can't be a kid again, but I try to think like a child and be open to learning every day that I live. Glad you liked the story Muriel. :D

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  29. Hi Cathy -

    Your story reminded me of all the things I used to bring home inside of the house that used to drive my mother insane. Rocks, logs, sticks, leaves, weeds, frogs, lizards, toads, rabbits, worms, crickets, ect...and some managed to wind up in my little sister's bed. Not sure how but my stray things had a mind of their own ;). :)

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  30. @charlie nitric I had a son and fished out more than a few strange things from his pockets. :D

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