A preschooler and a gentleman
October 16th, 2005
Soph woke up on Friday looking a little pale, but she said she had to go to preschool, because Friday is her day to bring in an item for Letter of the Week. Last week, it was C, and she was very very very excited about taking her crayons. No fever, so her papa and I figured, ah, she’s probably fine.
Oh, not fine. So not fine. By the time we arrived at preschool she was limp in her carseat. “Is throwup easy to clean up in a car?” she asked.
I suggested that we go right back home, but she insisted the whole class was waiting for her C presentation and the world would come to a crashing, screeching halt if she did not show them her crayons. So we compromised: she’d run in and talk crayons, and then we’d go back home.
We walked into her classroom, set down her bag, turned around, and sprinted to the bathroom, where she proceeded to throw up in a teeny, tiny toilet.
I held her hair back as a big slimy load of fresh mamaguilt slid down my back. Nice going, Mama. Take the kid to school so she can vomit on arrival. Good instincts there.
Fortunately Sophie is always a great thrower-upper: calm, very Zen. No tears, no fuss, no fighting it. When it’s throw-up time, this kid is a throw-up survivor, not a throw-up victim.
A few heaves, and it was all over—at least for the time being. Soph was now officially greenish-white, looking like a not-yet-in-the dark glow-in-the-dark something or other. She let me wipe her mouth with toilet paper. Then she peered into the toilet bowl, studying the previous contents of her stomach.
“I think we should flush,” she said thoughtfully. “We don’t want anybody’s bum-bum falling in my throwup.”
She charms me in the weirdest places, at the weirdest times.
*****
Then, tonight at bedtime, she asked, “Remember when I threw up at school and I didn’t even cry?”
“I sure do,” I said. “You were very brave.”
She nodded.
“I know. I threw up like a gentleman.”
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, Tattletales. (Mouths of babes)
17 Comments
1. greensunflower | October 16th, 2005 at 9:28 pm
badum bump- sophie does it again… the kid has character.
2. Jenn | October 16th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Yeah, what can I say? The kid’s full of great lines this week. I love this age. Four-and-half, where have you been all my life?
3. kris | October 16th, 2005 at 9:47 pm
Sophie is an amazing child. Honestly, I can’t wait untill they’re double teaming you. All that laughter is bound to make someone’s head explode.
4. Siobhan | October 16th, 2005 at 10:25 pm
I’ve just been put to shame by someone more than two decades my junior…
I cry every time I throw up. As this pregnancy is plagued by hyperemesis, that’s quite often, too!
5. the Mater | October 16th, 2005 at 10:47 pm
I hope you’ve started a diary or journal of Sophie’s one-liners! She continues to amaze, doesn’t she? But you didn’t finish your story … after the toilet was dutifully flushed, and face washed, did Sophie manage to stay and give her presentation of the letter “C”?! Sounds so Sesame Street. What a little trooper, besides being a gentleman of course. Loved that punchline :>)
6. geogirl | October 17th, 2005 at 8:36 am
That kid is amazing!
Only 4 and a half and she already has more humor, more grace, more wit, and more vocabulary than I do. And I’m in my 30’s!!
Have you ever seen the movie Little Man Tate?? (Directed by MY favorite actress by the way.) Seriously, Little girls Sophie sounds like a good sequel. Get writing on that would ya!
7. Simon | October 17th, 2005 at 8:48 am
They’d have to change the title to:
Little Gentleman Sophie.
8. Dawn | October 17th, 2005 at 9:27 am
I am digging Sophies “Show must go on” vibe.
It is a little known fact that the “C is for Crayon” presentation is the very lynchpin of all preschool curriculum.
9. MetroDad | October 17th, 2005 at 9:58 am
Absolutely adorable. What a trooper! And truly a gentleman.
10. Spot the Wonder Dog | October 17th, 2005 at 10:03 am
Crayon? weak.
“C” is for “Chucking your Cookies”.
“C” is for “Calling Ralph on the big white telephone.”
“C” is for “Crimson” as in “My mommy’s face is a lovely shade of crimson.”
You don’t want to know what she has planned for “D” week.
11. HollyRhea | October 17th, 2005 at 11:18 am
All you have to do is post transcripts of your daughter’s day, and we’re entertained.
amazing.
12. R J Keefe | October 17th, 2005 at 12:22 pm
L! O! L!
13. Susie | October 17th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
Oh what a lovely Sophie. So polite and even timely with the puking. I can remember going to tell the school nurse/school receptionist that I was feeling ooogey and dropping lunch right into her typewriter. I’m sure I’m a story she told often.
Oh how I pray that Liam is a good puker. I am a bad one and not sure I will hold my lunch down while his is coming up. Is there a trick?
14. gina | October 18th, 2005 at 11:47 am
The world would be a much better place if everyone worried about people’s bum-bum’s more. Sophie needs to write a book!
15. Llamaschool | October 19th, 2005 at 11:32 am
Sophie is a prodigy; I think I was in college the first time I threw up before a class presentation.
16. JenfromBoston | October 20th, 2005 at 12:29 pm
Your kid is amazing. I am lovin the Sophie stories too.. She is pretty wise for four.
Apparently, this is the age kids can’t get enough of school. My younger sister when she was 5 was really sick (fever and such) so my mom had her stay home. My mom went to check in on her, …and no emily. apparently she dressed herself, snuck out of the house, and convinced the high school kid up the street (who we knew well) to give her a ride ON HIS BIKE HANDLE BARS, to kindergarten class. My mom was obvisouly in a panic when she saw a missing sick kid. Within a few minutes, she got a call from the school saying she was there. I think the fact that she had dressed herself was what betrayed her (one strawberry shortcake sock, one plain, I think her dress may have been inside out, etc.)
Yeah, the show must go on! for these guys.
17. Kathryn DYM | October 22nd, 2005 at 6:53 pm
Your daughter should get together with mine. This is exactly the way she talks. It just kills me sometimes. I should post more of our conversations. Cool site. It’s my first time here.
Trackback this post