FIELDS OF DREAMS
SMILE PRETTY!
“I snapped this photo of my daughters Silene (left) and Kiley in this beautiful canola field several years ago,” says Natalie Cranston of Sturgeon County Alta.
BOYS WILL BE BOYS
“I took this picture of my sons and nephews in a farmer’s field outside of Yorkton, Sask.” shares Buffy Labonte-sias of Whitehorse. “Pictured (from left) is my son Hudson, my nephews Kanin and Graden, and my other son Cullen.
FRAGRANT FIELDS
“This little fellow is my nephew, Elliott Huffman,” shares Ann Lane of Coburg, Ont. “I captured this pic when my mum, and my sister and I, along with our kids, ventured out to a lavender farm just north of Port Hope, Ont. It was our first time visiting a lavender farm, and what a beautiful place it was!”
DON’T GO THERE!
My husband and I have two wonderful daughters, Amanda and Jenny. Both bring us tremendous joy, but Jenny excels at making us laugh. When Jenny was two years old and we were struggling with toilet training, she surprised me with the following memorable gem.
For weeks, first thing in the morning, I’d check her diaper. If it was dry, I’d lavish her with praise, hugs and kisses. One morning, Jenny woke up early but didn’t come to cuddle as usual. I heard her moving about but relished the few extra minutes of rest. When I went to her room, she was still in her crib, playing. When she saw me, Jenny jumped up, soother still in her mouth, mumbled something and raised her arms. She seemed exceptionally cuddly, as her little legs wrapped around me. Checking her diaper, I found it dry and rewarded her with hugs, kisses and praise. While changing her, I noticed her diaper was crooked and loose. Since it was dry, I readjusted it and finished dressing her. We were about to leave her room when Jenny pointed to the far corner. With as much seriousness as she could muster, she said, “Don’t go there!” I stopped and looked at her, uncertain I had understood. Again came the muffled but understandable command, “Don’t go there!” Her head shook from side to side, straight blond hair swinging, her beautiful little face, blue eyes and blond hair spoke of an angel. The manner of her command, however, told another story. This little pint-sized person was telling me, her mother, not to go there. I had to investigate. Seeing my change in direction, Jenny ran ahead of me to block my view. Once again came the uttered command. This time, however, the soother was conspicuously absent. “Don’t go there!” I bent over Jenny and retrieved the object she’d tried to hide. A wet diaper. I stared at it, not comprehending how it got there. Then the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The movement in her room, no cuddle time, the crooked and loose diaper.
There was no fear in Jenny’s eyes as I looked from her to the diaper and back. I tried to sound cross saying “What is this?” but I doubt it came out as I’d intended. She didn’t speak but looked around the room. The soother had found its way back into her mouth. Her facial expression said it all, “A wet diaper?”
As I tried to impress upon her the inappropriateness of her actions, a myriad of emotions warred within me. In the end, amazement won and I laughed. This little two-year-old, understanding a wet diaper was undesirable, figured out she could change it, and in turn get what she wanted—praise.
Had she not commanded me “Don’t go there!” I wouldn’t have noticed the diaper until much later. By then, it would have just been a mystery. I wasn’t angry, just amazed at the resourcefulness of this child. Her innocent and honest “Don’t go there!” was as much a confession of guilt as ever there was one. 30 years later, I still laugh.