The claws come out.

Both of my kids were blessed with birthmarks on their faces. Mc came out with BRIGHT red splotches on her eyelids, a "stork bite" on her forehead (to match Mark's) and a ring around the side of her nose. They used to be more pronounced when she was younger but have faded over time and unless she is hot or in full fledged tantrum mode, they are almost non-existent.

Kingston however, wasn't born with his. At about 4 months, a dark little patch started to manifest on his forehead. It got darker and darker with time and now, is just part of our little boy. Something that I never notice or even give a second thought to. A few times people would ask what had happened or if he had fallen but, those comments faded and again, it became just one of the charming characteristics that make up Kingston (his bright blue eyes, his teensie little teeth and his killer smile).

Until Monday.

I think as parents, we spend our whole lives trying to figure out how to protect our kids from other kids. I learned that really, sometimes the worst offenders aren't the inquisitive kids on the playground but rather, those full grown adults that have no filter. Alex had taken Kingston to Petsmart to prowl the alluring cages of all things creepy crawly. A woman, who I can only assume was buying kitty litter for the  "cat lady" hoard that awaited (I can make these stereotypes because she was mean to my kid right?), approaches Alex and proceeds to point out "Oh, it looks like he has an owie.", "What happened?". Alex responds, as would anyone who doesn't really start a conversation based on some one's difference in appearance, "Nope, it's just a birthmark". This woman, who obviously is lacking social skills, responds, "Oh, how unfortunate". EXCUSE ME? Even as Alex relays the story, I can feel my blood start to boil and begin rehearsing all the things I would have said had I been there to snap back:
"How unfortunate you never learned any manners"
"What is more unfortunate is that my kid can hear you and so can I"
"It's unfortunate that you felt the need to open your mouth"
"Let's try this again. Except next time, walk by and say nothing. It's better that way."
"It's unfortunate that talking to cats all day has turned you into a person that can no longer interact on an appropriate level with actual human beings"

My heart just broke for my little boy. Now, this won't be the first time and I know it's not the last but my sweet two year old boy was defenseless and probably in his own oblivion watching the lizards as a woman labeled him "unfortunate".

Lesson learned. Kindness is something we need to teach and bottom line, someone being different is far from being "unfortunate". And if you ask me, this kid is sheer perfection.

Take a walk on the wild side.

I purchased this darling water color @ the Vintage Whites Market this weekend with both of my children in mind. It goes without saying that both of my children are strong willed and maintain a certain level of independence  that can be both wonderful and alarming. They are the epitome of "wild and free". This statement rang even more true this weekend.

The usual Sunday after church routine is lunch, Kingston nap, me nap, Mark & Mc watch TV/play. I snuggled in for my pregnancy induced coma and assumed the schedule would continue. The home phone rings. Rings. Rings. Then my cell phone. Home phone again and I answer. Barely coherent, my neighbor a few houses down tells me that Mckinley has showed up and that we too, should come down because everyone from the ward is there having food/visiting the Smith's who were in town from TX. Wait, what? I run in, wake up Mark and he heads down to bring her home.

I hear the crying from two houses down as they get closer to the house. Mckinley with her fleece scarf, mismatched boots and dress walking back to the house knowing that she is busted. She was sent to her room after a talking to,  and eventually, she decided to take a nap too. Mark and I just sat, amazed at the thought process of our kid.

She had apparently made her way down there, mind you, house full of people we know from church, and said "My mom and dad are asleep, so I came to hang out." Now, first, it was mostly alarming. My five year old kid tromping down the street, an easy target for some creeper to come and snatch her up. Second, your mind moves to the thought of all these people saw your kid rolling solo, ragamuffin style to come and play, and how we look as parents. Lastly, in an odd sort of way, it is kind of empowering as a parent that your kid has some independence (I say "some" very loosely). She wasn't afraid and she didn't even give a second thought that she had a friend's house she felt comfortable going to.

I read an article about how, from birth to teenager-dom we want our kids to listen to us, and resist the urge to assert their own will power but then one day, expect them to make choices on their own- to just shift from being passive children to street savvy, Type A adults. That isn't really fair. So, after nap time, with no mention of past transgressions, we played, and tucked our kid into bed- full well knowing this is just the beginning of those "Wait, what?" moments that undoubtedly wait for us tomorrow, and the next day and the next.