The I-Didn't-Want-To-Get-A-Hurt Discussion

"But I didn't want to get a huurrrt..."
"I know. I'm really sorry that you're hurting and upset... I hate to see you feeling down, Day."
"Then I think you shouldn't have taken me to that place and let those people give me this hurt..."
"You needed the blood test to find out what's going on with your body and why you're not feeling up to your usual self."
"I feel up to my usual self! I feel just fine!!"
"Well, your urine sample said otherwise and that's what warrented the bloodwork needing to be done."
"HEY! That's PRIVATE!! We don't need to be sharing this PRIVATE information, like, OUT LOUD!!!"
"I'm only trying to explain the reason for your little boo-boo, Day."
"LITTLE boo-boo??? What, are you makin' fun of me now?? That's nice, Mama... real thoughtful of you. Y'know, I was having a really nice day today... the sun was shining, I was having the most amazing dreams in my naps, the treats were finding me with perfect timing and even my little brother wasn't bugging me so much like usual. But then, you wrecked it all... just with that one little car ride that took me to that place I don't even like....."
"I'm sorry, Day... I didn't mean to wreck my Day by wrecking his day. Get it? Did you get what I did there?? ... Oh, come on, not even a teenie weenie little smile from that one?"
"Oh my gosh, you're sooooooo funny... ha... ha..... I hafta say, I'm a little disappointed that you're treating this like a joke."
"I promise I'm not, I was just trying to make you giggle."
"Whatever. Anyhow, I guess we won't be going back there again, huh? I mean, especially after the brightly bandaged damage they did to my arm... you, for sure, would never take me back there because you learned your lesson... at my expense, I might add! Right, Mama?"
"That's right, Day, we won't be going back there... not for another whole TWO weeks for your second blood test that will tell us if the medicine worked."
"Mamas are so unfair... grumble, grumble....."

The Birthday Cake Discussion

"You made a cake? ..... Without me??"
"You were sleeping. You don't like to be interrupted when you're sleeping"
"But, you could have aaaasssked me... I love cake."
"I know you love cake, that's why I made it for you."
"You made it for ME???"
"I did."
"It's 'cause it's my birthday, isn't it?!! Sweeeet! Can I have it right now? Now?? How 'bout now???"
"Not right now, Day. All your people and your uncle, Derby, will be coming over tonight to share the cake with you."
"What?!!??? You JUST said you made it for me-eeeee! You didn't say you made it for EVERYONE!! I have a LOT of people, you know, and now I even have a brother who will HAVE to have some and, and, and... and have you seeeeen the size of Derby??? I'll be lucky if I even get to taste that cake, at aaaaall!"
"Trust me, Day, everything is better when you share. And, I will make sure that you have the cake slice of your dreams... this evening."
"But, I really want it nooowwww. It's the first time I'm ever turning six and I just really think that I deserve some cake... and some icinnnggggg..."
"And you'll have some. Tonight when everyone gets here."
"Mamas are so unfair... grumble, grumble....."

The Canada Day Discussion

"But it's Canada Day..."
"I know it's Canada Day... and it's going to be a beautiful day, too!"
"But it looks beautiful right nowww..."
"You're right, it is, and it's also actually really beautiful to see you awake, y'know... before the crack of noon!"
"I'm only awake because I had plans, Mama! It's Canada Day!! I'm a Canadian, tooooo... and I was going to celebrate..... ALL... DAY.....LONG!!! And by 'celebrate'... I mean OUUUTSIIIIIIDDE celebrate! I was going to run outside and play outside and snack outside and have treats outside and I was even going to nap outside! ... All because I'm a Canadian... and now you won't let me celebrate....."
"Okay, Day, I think you're getting far too worked up here. You can do ALL of those things and I promise you that we are going to have a fantastically fun day today! All I said was we needed to wait a couple of hours for the grass to dry... It just is NOT safe for you to be running in the morning-dew soaked grass. You and Play run WAY too fast and risking a slip and fall that could really hurt you would just not make for a fun Canada Day, at all!"
"But I'm only worked up because I wanted to show my little brother about Canada Daaayyyy... he doesn't know yet and I wanted to show him earlyyy....."
"I think you're just up too early and still a little filled with the grumpies!"
"I'm not grumpy! I have my BANDANA ON!! ... That means I'm EXCITED about CANADA DAAYYY... NOT GRUMPY!!!"
"Yeaahhh... I think it's time for another little nap. Let's go... either right up here on the couch or your choice of your napping beds but you, Mister, need a few more hours of sleep before we begin again!"
"I'm keeping my bandana on..."
"Okay."
"I am kinda tired, Mama..."
"I know."
"I don't mean to be grumpy... I just really love Canada ... *yawn* ... Day....."
"I know, I love it, too... even more so, now that I get to share it with you and Play....."
"Happy Canada Day, Mama."
"Happy Canada Day, Day."

Spooky Camp-Story Time

The Nicely-Sharing Discussion

"No, but... um, I was here first, Mama..."

"Really, Day? Because, it looks to me like Play had to have been cuddled up in that bed first."
"No."
"So, why is he tucked in behind you and you're hanging half off the front? It kind of appears to me like you tried to push your way in, even though Play was already laying there."
"Ummmm..... well... but actually it was MY bed fi-iiiirrrsst..."
"Remember, we talked about how you would have to share your things when your new little brother came home?"
"I know... but... he already shared ALL my toys! And he shared ALL my treats!! And he shared ALL my space!!! And now he's sharing ALL my BEDDDSS??!!! ... It's not faaiiir!"
"I know it seems like way too many big changes, Day... but I promise you it will all get easier. You two are going to have the greatest of times together. You've been so gentle and patient in letting Play share in everything we all have to share. And trust me... he is only just starting on his own toy, treat and bed collections; I'm certain he will share with you just as you are sharing with him."
"How do you know he will?"
"Because that's what brothers do... and you've already taught him that by so graciously sharing your collections."

"Play, are you comfortable squished in there like that?"
"Well... um, I waaaas actually going to stretch out..... but, I guess it's okay if Day wants to share; it kinda feels like he wants to take the whole thing, though..."
"I think it might just take a little time for him to understand that sharing nicely makes everything even better."
"Iiiiiii'm sharing nicely, though... right, Mama? I'm a good sharer because I didn't say anything, at aaalllll when Day came and just pushed his way in here with me. I just stayed here and was really patient and really nicely sha-aarring... right, Mama??"
"That's right, Play. You are doing soooooo well in getting along with your new big brother and I'm soooooo incredibly proud of you!"

"Thanks-a-lot, Play! Nothin' like ratting me out....."
"Hey... don't mention it, Day! After all... isn't that what little brothers are for?" *wink*
"Little brothers are so unfair... grumble, grumble....."

The Draftiness Discussion

"Ummm... hel-lo-ooooo???"
"Well, hello there!"
"Funny, Mama, but I wasn't actually saying 'hello'... Don't you notice something wrong here?"
"Hmmm... something maybe like the fact that it's already almost noon and you're still in in bed??"
"Yeah... ha...haaaa..... You're just full of funnies this morning... honestly, where do you keep coming up with them?" *eyeroll*
"Oh, I'dunno, could just be that I've been up for so many hours and it's been boring without your cheerful morning companionship; I had no other options but to just quietly sit alone and make up funnies to keep myself occupied."
"Well, you've had your fun, now could you at least try and be serious?!"
"Okay, I'll try."
"Well?"
"Well, what??"
"You really don't see it..."
"What, am I supposed to be a mind-reader? Just tell me already!"
"Myyyyyy ..... BUMMMMMMM!!!"
"Okay... now I'm detecting just a lil' bit of annoyance....."
"Mama! You know I like to be covered. And you know that I need to be cozy to have good sleepies. And you know that I only like to have my face and my tootsies out of the cozy covers... NOT my BUMMM! ... I don't like to have draftiness happening down there!!"
"Oh, I see. And so it's my fault you rolled and uncovered a tiny sliver your bum?"
"No, it's not your fa-auult... but, it is your jo-oobbb to make sure it gets re-covered quickly....."
"That's my job? Tell me, Day... how, in the world, did I get to be so lucky??!"
"Because I picked you to get to be my mama..."
"That, you did... and I'm just so grateful that you did."
"As you should be... Now, cover my bum and let me get back to sleep!!"
"Greyhounds are so unfair... grumble, grumble....."

The Glamping Discussion

"Mama, what's 'glamping'?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jasper said I'm not camping, he said I'm gla-aaa-aampinggg... and he said it just like tha-aat!"
"Ohhhh... well, I think Jasper was just teasing you. Glamping is the same as camping but just usually done in fancier, comfier form, that's all; nothing to be bothered over."
"He calls this 'fancy'? I'm laying in a tent... what's fancy about that??!"
"Hey... you may be laying in a tent but it's not like you are exactly 'ruffing-it', Day... you do have a pretty cozy set-up."
"I guess... but I still don't like it when Jasper makes fun of me."
"Nobody likes to be made fun of. You and Jasper just have differing experiences and expectations of the great outdoors. But, you're still friends and that's the only thing that really matters."
"Maybe a tent-snack will help me feel better....."
"Good thing I have some treats right here in our packsack, then!"
"I didn't say tent-'treat'... I said, tent-'sna-aaack'... I'll have a pear please; in little-bite pieces..."
"Yeah... no 'glamping' happening here..."
"What was that??"
"Nothing! I'm just going to get your pear ready..."
"Thanks, Mama... Camping sure is FUN!!!"
"And Greyhounds are so unfair... grumble, grumble......"