Sucker Punched. (Or Just a Sucker.)
I am quickly learning that 4-year olds deal with death very differently than most adults. I think it might be because they are absolutely nuts, but whatever. Maybe it's just Alexis who is completely out of her mind. And possibly bipolar.
"Where is Coal?" she asked a few days ago.
"Honey, Coal died," I gently reminded her. I'm trying to use the real words and not sugar-coat things. I figure it won't really help the situation to muddle it with confusing things like, "He went away," or whatever.
"I miss him," she whimpered through tears before breaking down completely and sobbing. With her face buried in my shoulder, I did what I could to console her even as I blinked away my own tears.
I needn't have worried because good ol' Miley Cyrus appeared on TV and called someone a dork. It was as if a switch flipped in Alexis' head as she instantly stopped crying and said, "Why did she call her a dork?"
"I don't know," I replied as I stared at the now ridiculously happy child in my lap. She flitted about for a few moments, giggling at Hannah/Miley/whoever she is before returning her attention to me.
"When is Coal coming back?" she asked.
"Coal is gone, Alexis. He's not coming back," I told her.
"Oh," she replied, as she resumed full-blown bawling.
Then, minutes later, she remembered something. She remembered something that I promised A YEAR AGO. I know it was a year ago because it was before we moved, but after we had made the offer on this house.
A year ago Alexis and I stood inside an aquarium store, looking at fish for the Saltwater Tank of Horrors. Some how, some way, Alexis caught site of some kittens out of the corner of her eye. They were rescues, there in hopes of being adopted. Alexis wanted one. She begged. She pleaded. She made all sorts of promises of good behavior.
I told her, "No." However, I left her with a tiny opening, a glimmer of future hope. I told her that when Coal was gone, she could get a kitten.
(The truth of the matter is that I would have been OK with getting one then, knowing that we were soon to have plenty of space. However, I didn't think it would be fair to an-already-old-and-ill Coal to take on another animal right then.)
Alexis remembered me saying that she could get a kitten when Coal was gone. And she called me on it.
Introducing Ali:
I think maybe Alexis likes her.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Reader Comments (43)
Aw, hello kitty! Kittens are so cute. The only problem is that they grow up into cats who puke on the carpet and miss the litter box.
Great, now I want a kitten too! They are just too adorable together!
omg. the cuteness. She's adorable!
aw :). and this is why i am terrified of ever make promises to the kiddo. children have better memories than elephants.
Oh, so cute! Congratulations on the new addition!
Total sucker.
But who can blame you...she's adorable! (The kid. And the cat too.)
(P.S. My kid is bipolar too, glad to hear I'm not alone!)
Oh lord, the CUTE!
Long, long ago, the husband promised we could get another kitten when the first one of ours dies. Kitty is currently 867 year old and still kicking. Husband has since attempted to void his promise many times over.
But oh! the CUTE!
Disney name, right?
Welcome Ali! I looove kittens! We got C a kitten when she was about 2 and she put him in a mixing bowl and tried to stir him. Needless to say he is now in a family without children.
Good luck!
Haha. you got played. Alexis is a smart kid. I totally wouldn't have remembered that. But Ali is adorable. Makes me wish I wasn't allergic to cats. We do have a bunny though, George.
um yeah, you're totally a sucker :) Cute kitty!!!
Kids got skillz. Although you have to admit Ali is a little beaut. (Hugs)Indigo
They're adorable!
@Jayna--Alexis named her, but yeah. Aristocats has a character named Thomas O'Malley who is often referred to as "Alley Cat." Then there's Prince Ali. Somehow it works, even though Alexis has had a kitten name picked out pretty much her whole life.
That's one kitten that just hit the jackpot! She'll be thoroughly loved and taken care of for all her days.
Funny how kids NEVER forget a promise like that. I"m surprised she wasn't at your bedside the next morning going, "When are we getting our kitty?"
Oh my word - that is the cutest kitten ever! Not that she will replace your last kitty, but it is certainly a good distraction.
Aren't their little memories AMAZING???
I can't believe some of the random crap that my son remembers. It is scary ;D
Our children are scary.
that is all :-)
*tears*
Aw, what a cutie! The kitten's not bad either. :-) Ali looks like a mini Bob. I hope she's less into sneezing then farting than he is.
Is it a boy or girl? I'm thinking boy, but I"m not sure. Even if it is a boy, that is the prettiest kitten I ever saw!
Who's accusing whom of having a petting zoo?
You know, I thought of that promise immediately after hearing of Coal, but I wasn't going to be the one to bring it to light. I figured that smart little I Remember Everything of yours would soon enough. She never fails to disappoint.
Sucker.
And I may have sorta kinda been saying FOREVER that we'll get a puppy when "the last kid is potty trained". The baby turns 1 on Saturday. I'm in trouble. Kids never forget, do they? Truth is, it's my husband who needs convincing. I'm totally on board with getting a dog when I'll actually have some time to spend training it.
Also? We're making a trip to my aunt's farm in a few weeks where her outside cat is expecting kittens. Their life expectancy is measured in days because they live on a main road and no longer have a barn. My husband, who pretends to be all tough, will take one look at our kids loving on those kitties and I'm pretty sure we'll be buying kitty litter on the way home...
You made your girl happy. Good work! How are the other critters adjusting?
Yay Alexis! It never ceases to amaze me how children never forget those promises.. Ali is a very cute kitten and lucky to have come to live with a great family. Congratulations! The picture of Alexis and Ali is fantastic! The picture says it all
@The Mommy--The other prisoners are fine with Ali. Powder couldn't possibly care less, just so long as she stays away from his perch in the basement. Meg is all sorts of -meh- about it and Cody thinks she's his personal play toy. He might be driving the kitten insane. Maybe.
Awwww! Amazing what kids can remember. I swear my daughter has the memory of an elephant and if I tell her something, she WILL remember, even months or years later. I am happy for Alexis - kittens are the best!
I'm not a cat person (mainly because of my allergies), but damn....if Ali isn't cute, I don't know what is!
and here i can't remember what i ate for dinner last night. go alexis!
Aw, how sweet! How long do you think it'll be before that kitty is wearing pink clothing?
You're not that much of a sucker. At least you walked away with only one kitten. Then there's us, where the rescue group brings over both puppies and stupid me goes "oh, but they'll entertain each other and how could we possibly separate them?"
If you ever make your way down to Texas and we meet for drinks, please slap me upside the head multiple times for that one.
@Catwoman--Attempts were made to adopt both Ali and her sister. I'm a sucker, but I'm not stupid. Mostly.
you ARE a sucker... but fortunately, it was a good call this time ;-)
Aweeee!!! SO CUTE!
You're a sucker, but we all are. I once promised my son his own (and by his own I mean I take care of it) puppy, but not until my oldest we had at the time was gone. Yeah, he didn't forget either. So now I have a spaztastic Boxer with more energy than my son knows what to do with. It's left up to me to entertain the thing. Good thing she's cute and likes to cuddle during her down time.
Very CUTE!!! We told our kids we could not get a dog until our elderly cat is, um, no longer around. I think they've been plotting her demise since then. They're always saying, "When Salem dies, can we get a poodle?" "I can't wait to get a dog. How long do cats live?"
Poor Salem!!!
Oh yeah!!!!! What a cutie!
Congratulations on your new family member! :)
So sweet!
I remember the death talk with Gracie last year. (Stupid Land Before Time.) Who promptly burst into tears and asked how would she ever see me again after *I* died. I would have promised her kitties and puppies and unicorns if she had thought to ask for them. So, nah, you're not a sucker. Just a good mom.
Okay seriously - I can't remember what I said yesterday let alone a year ago - how do kids do that??? Little Miss. Burgh Baby looks right at home with her new kitty and how cute - I love the top photo of her scratching kitty's neck and it's just a beautiful photo!
I'm not looking forward to the day when our Maggie passes. She's been with us since Hunter was just a baby. Oy - I wonder what crazy things my boys will suddenly remember after Maggie dies!
I think I should be scared!
Oh my, I will be sure to not show allow my 6yo to see those photos! What an incredibly adorable kitty cat. I am right there with you, no sugar coating it. Although I did tell a itty-bitty white lie when we had to give up our dog. Oops.
That is one cute kitty! NO...I will not get another cat!
she's adorable! death and kids is so tough...
Adorable! But seriously, you should have gotten the set--we did, and while Chloe is still sickly, she's a sweet little girl, which balances the devil's spawn that is Violet, who is currently working on "opposable thumbs be dammed" skills to open the now locked upper cupboards in the kitchen. (I still argue that we should have named the Charlotte and Vendetta)
@mumple--That is EXACTLY how we ended up with Coal. Powder was the spawn of the devil as a kitten. We got tired of not being able to walk across a room without having our feet attacked by the tiny ninja, so we went and got another kitten to take his abuse.
isn't it amazing what kids remember and what they don't (like where the heck did you put your left shoe......it didn't walk away without a foot in it!!)