There is a monster threatening our home. Menacing, he waits in every corner. If left alone he will find you. And he's creepy. With a long nose and beady eyes. He comes out in the revealing light of day, once in bed you are safe. Thank GOD for small favors. No room is safe without Mommy. Threat lurks just feet away. Who is this ferocious creature? This monstrous ugly beast?
Pinocchio.
Yes, Pinocchio.
GIRL went to school, came home and suddenly within a day she wouldn't stay in a room by herself. She follows me everywhere, clinging and moaning. Things are actually better today, but Pinocchio can always turn up. Anytime. Anywhere. Apparently.
Why Pinocchio?
GIRL overheard a teacher and some of the older kids talking about lying. The story of Pinocchio came up and everyone clamored to tell the most gruesome part of the story - depending on your interpretation, that could be donkey ears, a whale or a puppet turning into a boy. Or your nose getting longer if you don't tell the truth. Or, in GIRL's case, just Pinocchio himself. It's up for grabs.
All I know is that my once independent, don't you DARE try to help me, little girl is no longer wanting to do anything on her own. Undressing, dressing, being in the playroom, etc. And the poor thing is just terrorized. And embarrassed about it. So, we're talking things through - the usual, "it's pretend, make-believe, like this, like that, and our imaginations can sometimes make us think of things that aren't there." She takes this in, but it does not seem to be helping much. We have extra hugs and I am trying to be patient. And to not laugh. It's not kind to laugh at someone else's pain, but GOD ...Pinocchio? Well, he is kind of creepy I guess. We won't be getting the book or movie anytime soon. It's really rather a gruesome story and I don't want to add any fuel to her already overactive imagination. So, we'll continue to talk and hope that Pinocchio will fade away as mysteriously as he arrived.
The one constant. The one little joke that GOD seems to have placed in my hands is that GIRL is exactly 3 years and 10 months old. Which is the exact age that BOY was when the fears kicked in. What? Does a silent timer go off at 3 years 10 months old? Set to maniacal laughter, perhaps?If so, I didn't get the handout, the childcare manual - kid gloves version.
Just when you think you are getting to know your little person they throw you a curve. And you better have both hands on the steering wheel, honey, because it is going to be a bumpy ride...
** Photo courtesy of Disney & Google Images
** Photo courtesy of Disney & Google Images
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pinocchio scares the fucking CRAP out of me
ReplyDeleteSerious comment (yes, a rarity!): I think you should get the Disney version of the movie. It's hard to be afraid of THAT pathetic Pinocchio, especially when you see how much Gepetto loves him. (The book is another -- er, story.) And you know how things in our imagination are so much scarier than they are in actuality? Same principle, at 3 years 10 months, or 30 years plus 10 more. Of course, you will want to watch it with her.
ReplyDeleteI think Boy and Girl got together and settled on that exact age to freak you out.
ReplyDeletebumpy indeed! luckily my kids didn't give me that sharp curve at 3years and 10months or I'll lose my grib on the steering wheels.*laugh*
ReplyDeletebut I was terrified when they (the old folks) told me (when I was small) that my ears would be cut off if I pointed at the moon!!! that night I slept with a towel wrapping my head with a tiny hole for my nose to breathe, to prevent my ears from being chopped off!!!!
oh how silly!
If you think about it, there is something pretty terrifying in every Disney film! Pinocchio, huh? Wonder what Super Nanny would suggest? (Kidding! I'm kidding!) Hope it passes quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhich Disney version do you mean kalynne? I saw the animated old time version (with Nester the Long Eared Donkey as a lead in) when I was a tween and that shit scares me still. The whale part is the worst but the whole thing is just creeptastic. I don't blame GIRL one tiny bit.
ReplyDeleteI believe Kalynne has been nipping at my whiskey...
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, DON'T watch the live action version with Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Pinocchio! My kids LOVE the story, but that one give them the creeps. Course, DH introduced ALL of ours to the Star Wars trillogy TWO summers ago...you know, when Snorkie was only 18 months. He loves them.
ReplyDeleteGo Figure.
Good luck with your project, and putting Boy and Girl to work shredding isn't such a bad idea...they'd be in the same room with you! Blessings, E
All things Disney are a little creepy to me!
ReplyDeletePinochio was one of the childhood stories that just left me completely cold. I didn't get it then, and I don't really get it now.
I hope she grows past her fear. Are there any other make-believe characters that she likes or isn't afraid of, that you could relate Pinochio to?
Pinocchio is a little creepy. Maybe if you told her about his little friend, Jimminy Cricket?
ReplyDeleteShark feared Elmo. No clue why.
YES. a timer does go off around that age. my theory/observation is that about every six months a whole new development stage sets in (until about five or so) and things just CHANGE they become new people. they need you, they hate you, they want you, they are crying, they are happy.
ReplyDeletei'ts madness.
Ding, ding, ding goes that alarm bell! Just about that age, yes, we had to remove all pictures and wall hangings from Merrick's room. They remain in the basement and he's 5!!
ReplyDeleteTell your lovely GIRL that I feel exactly the same way about Elmo.
ReplyDeleteYeah Pinnochio is pretty creepy and the donkey /whale thing is nuts too. Hopefully she gets over her fears soon.
ReplyDeleteOr else you'll have to come up with some anti-Pinnochio spray for the house. It might work.
Oooh, I think I agree with Kalynne. It sure couldn't hurt at this point.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is interesting that the 2 mothers with the most experience both vote for showing her the movie...either we've both become callous, or we're on to something.
ReplyDeleteGotta disagree on the viewing. The Disney Pinnochio if effing terrifying when they go to the island and start turning into donkeys! She'll be sleeping in your bed for the rest of her life!
ReplyDeleteAndy did something interesting when HRH started with his monster fears. Rather than the standard "they're not real...blah, blah, blah" that I was feeding him, Andy simply told HRH that this was his house and that he (Andy) would not allow monsters or anything else to get in here. Period.
And it worked. Rather than blowing off the kid's fears, he validated them, then dealt with them in a concrete manner; Daddy will protect you.
Grrr. Last night Blogger wasn't taking comments. I had a good one all planned out. Instead I'm just going to tell you that my oldest daughter spent 6 months insisting she was Figaro, that pet cat in Gepetto.
ReplyDeleteDisney can be pretty freaky, especially old school Disney. I can't wait for this to happen to my boys;)
ReplyDeleteGreat. I'm only months from that point. I guess this is what I have to look forward to, huh?
ReplyDeleteWe skipped the whale part in Pinocchio for awhile because the Queen didn't like it. DeBoy is getting stuck watching stuff way earlier than she did because of proximity. He is completely unconcerned. The part of Pinocchio that terrified me as a kid, and which STILL hurts me to watch is when Lampwick is gradually turning into the donkey and screaming for his mother. It gives me cold chills just to write about it.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the Queen's fears kicking in all at once, but in the last month or two she doesn't want to go to the bathroom alone. Very annoying.