Tales of Life with a Girl on the Go

I took Reid to Home Depot for their Kids’ Building Workshop on Saturday morning. She asked why I was taking her instead of Ken. Like I haven’t taken her more than he has, though he took her to the last workshop. I’m not sure whether Reid thought building was the sort of job that a Daddy would do or whether she thought he was better, regardless of gender or if there was a third answer. It’s hard to know which would be a better answer.

The project was an interesting one – we made a perpetual calendar. There were 8 nails involved, which meant there was just the right amount of hammering required before Reid could paint. Reid did most of the hammering, for the first time, and her aim was much improved and we didn’t bend any nails. Maybe having Ken at that last workshop *was* better. ;+)

Mid-way through the workshop, I started wondering whether Lowes or Rona also offer workshops for kids. I’m pretty cheap, as you might have noticed, and free activities for kids are high on my list of things I like to spend time on. I’ve done a bit of research and see the Rona has a Little Hammers Club and Lowes in the US does as well. I couldn’t find any info on the Lowes Canada site but I’ll call. It turns out I’m not all that loyal.

If you’re looking for Reid on the morning of the 30th, you should check Rona. All that’s to be decided is whether she is stuck with second-choice Mama again.

Reid asked me to play Mama and Baby on Tuesday morning, and she was the Mama. I’d been downstairs already and had to go back to join Reid at the top of the stairs. She was on the first landing and I had to stand in the hall. Then, as I reached out to take “Mama’s” hand to walk down together, she started descending the stairs rapidly. As I said the baby’s part, “Wait for me, Mama! I wanna hold your hand! Mama, wait!” Reid hurried ahead giggling. I objected, I never run away from her laughing.

When we got to the kitchen, Reid prompted me to ask if I could help her pack her lunch. Dutifully, I asked if I could help and Reid answered, “Ask Dad, if you can help him.” Ouch. Again, I had to protest, I would never set her up like that. I would, however, encourage her to “help” her Dad with his lunch instead of helping me with mine.
It’s always interesting to have these glimpses into how Reid sees me, though I wish that she didn’t see me to be quite as arbitrary as she does.

I had my tripod out for Halloween, trying to get a good picture of Reid’s jack o’lantern glowing in all its spooky glory. It didn’t work all that well – the movement caused by my finger on the shutter caused blurry pictures and I didn’t think to try the timer. Reid found use for the tripod, though, pretending to take some pictures without a camera. When she set it up again on Monday night, I attached my point-and-shoot camera. Ken was sitting in his recliner, directly opposite the camera or, maybe I should reverse that since the camera was positioned because of Ken and not the other way around. Reid looked at the image on the camera’s display, made an displeased negative noise, climbed off of the footstool where the tripod was balanced and went to get me a hat to wear. I laughed at the sound and Ken told me that I make the same sound when I take pictures. Ken was deemed suitable in the toque Reid had put on his head and over his face but Reid had decided that I needed tulle and Reid’s straw boater, with the ribbon hanging in front of my face. Once we were accessorized to Reid’s satisfaction, she mimed how I was to position myself and then used her hands to tilt my head just so. Ken, since he couldn’t see anything, was allowed to stay as he was. Reid took a few pictures and then directed us to change our pose. We kissed and made sad faces, Ken rubbed his eyes to simulate crying. Reid seemed pleased with us as models. I’m hoping she thinks that she owes me a couple of poses the next I’m the one holding the camera. We’ll see.