You have to understand little girls to appreciate this amazing child. I am a girl (HA!), and I’ve been playing with little girls since I was one (HA!) and I have taught many little girls.
Tatum’s imagination and use of things that are really not considered toys amazes me.
Most little girls at Tatum’s age are playing with Barbie dolls, American Girl or some other EXPENSIVE doll situation. Believe me, my mom had to save her pennies to buy me the latest doll. AND, this new American Doll phenomenon forces adults to take out second mortgages in their homes. They rope you in with buying the doll, and then EVERY accessory is another mortgage payment. It’s a racket! BUT, I get it….very fun for little gals.
Ok, so what am I saying here? Tatum still loves to play with any stuffed animal. She still loves to imagine with them being her students or kids. But, Tatum makes her own dolls! She makes her own fun with what she makes up! This is the latest……
With her own allowance, she purchased 12 plastic frames. Then we went through her baby pictures and we ordered 19 or so pics so she could fill the frames.
I wasn’t sure what she’d do with them, but I was fine with the pic idea.
Now, do you know what she does with these pics? Well, she carries one or two around as if they were her child. For example, she said that the one that looks like a boy since she wasn’t wearing girlie clothes, this child is “LUCAS.” And so on. She names each one.
This morning, she had them all set up and talked to all of them as unit/class.
They are all her kids and she’s teaching them. (how to be kind; how to make friends; how to solve conflict).
Tatum, I love your heart. I love your imagination, and most importantly, I love how you make a seemingly simple thing become a treasured toy.
Tatum truly is grateful for what she has, and she DOESN’T WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE> She NEVER says to me, “Such and so has this doll and so I want one..” NOPE.
Tatum, you keep being YOU. Keep being the unique, kind, special, and brilliant girl you are.
I LOVE YOU and am SO honored to be your mommy.