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Mar 8, 2010

NIT-PICKIN A CHICKEN!


Just recently I had to face my eldest daughter’s indignation.

Daughter: (confrontational). Mam! Do you remember when I was a little girl and you read me the story of Chicken Licken?

Me: Er..yes..

Daughter: Well, you lied to me!

Me: (warily). I did…?

Daughter: Yes! Remember how an acorn falls on Chicken Licken’s head and he thinks the sky is falling in and so he sets off to tell the King? And on the way he meets Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Drakey Lakey, Turkey Lurky and Foxy Loxy, who all want to go with him?

Me: (bewildered). Yes…

Daughter: Well Foxy Loxy apparently said that he was sure his wife would want to tag along too, so he invited them all back to his den to meet her – but once there, he gobbled them all up!

Me: (nervously). Yes, well I’m sure he did. Yes, he did.

Daughter: (indignantly). Well you told me that Foxy Loxy invited them all back to meet his wife and they all sat down and had jam sandwiches!!!

Me: (spluttering) Ahem. Yes, well, you were so young. What were you? Three? Four? You were all excited and enjoying the story so much, I couldn’t bare to tell you the cold, evil truth and wipe that happy smile off your little face. So yes. I lied!

Daughter: (tongue in cheek) Well, I can understand that - but you should have told me later. You shouldn’t lie to kids. I went through childhood defending your version!

Me: (contrite). Okay. I’m sorry. I forgot. But look at it this way. You slept serenely afterwards. No nightmares of being eaten by foxes. No years of therapy needed.

Daughter: There is that, of course. Now… about Red Riding Hood and the Wolf………?

Me: (gulp..).


Moral of this true conversation: (Yes, surreal as it seems, it really did take place!). Don’t ever tell fibs to your kids - even with their welfare in mind - because they will always come back to roost! Even more than 40 years later. LOL!

12 comments:

Grannymar said...

I didn't have to wait forty years, and those conversations took place at 7.30am!!!

Geri Atric said...

Grannymar ~ Oh dear, 7.30am.? That's a bit early to engage your brain and fend off an indignant child! But at least it's behind you now. I wasn't expecting these sort of 'recriminations' at my time of life. I find myself looking sideways at my offspring now - waiting for the next 'Mam! Do you remember..?'(shudder!!)

steph said...

I think you were very inventive, Geri

Though I seem to remember that my eldest child used to roar with laughter at the idea of Foxy Woxy gobbling up all the others.

My main problem at story time was trying to stay awake as my eldest was never content with just one story and I'd often fall asleep before he did!

Luckily, my youngest loved her bed and often fell asleep before we got to story time!

Geri Atric said...

Steph ~ LOL! Your two sound a bedtime delight (except for the 'read me anovver' bit..groan). I bet you were thrilled when your eldest learned to read for himself(?!)

I might have told my daughter the true ending if I had thought she could 'take it' - but she kept turning back the pictures to kiss poor Chicken Licken's bumped head!
So imagine getting to the last page and discovering your 'new fluffy friends' are all bloodily murdered....aarrgghh!

Oh dear...I might dream about it myself now!

Jay said...

Hahahahaaha! And there was me singing 'What have you got for dinner, Mrs Bond' to mine at full volume. LOL!

I read what was there to my kids, and if I didn't like it, I chose a different story. Have to say, I didn't like the brothers Grimm very much, or Roald Dahl, so they didn't get those, but in fact they went on to read some perfectly horrid stuff as soon as they were able. Kids, huh?

Geri Atric said...

Jay ~ "Oh, what have you got for dinner, Mrs Bond?
There's beef in the larder, and ducks in the pond;
Dilly, dilly, dilly, dilly, come to be killed,
For you must be stuffed and my customers filled!"

And they call this 'The Baby's Opera'!! LOL.

Yes, Grimm too was pretty grim(!) But it's like you say, they mostly end up reading it all anyway!

Well at least we tried...

Kate said...

My two used to love Mrs Mopples Washing Line - nothing scary there - but then my son wanted me to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to him - now there is some very strange stuff in there..... not that he seemed to notice!!!! And I might add he could read perfectly well himself at the time - apparently he liked it when I 'did the voices'!!

Geri Atric said...

Kate ~ Good morning! Sorry for the late answer. Have just returned from a few days away, babysitting a poorly grandson. Tried to read to him a few times too, but all he wanted to do was watch his 'Madagasgar' cartoon animal dvd (!).

Oo yes - Charlie and the Chocolate factory (scary!) and you can do the voices? I'm impressed! Like your son, my kids too seemed to enjoy it - and also completely miss the moral of the story; i.e.; if you're selfish you'll get squashed by umperwhatsits! Wonder why that didn't make an impression?!

We moved to Holland in 1972 and seem to have missed 'Mrs. Mopples Washing Line'. Shame, because I've just googled it and it looks lovely! They should have it over here by now - and translated into Dutch. I'll keep an eye open for it for my grandsons. (If I can wheedle them away from flip american cartoon humour long enough to sit and listen)!

Kate said...

oh it was a lovely book, well worth a look!! I went to see the new Alice film this week - it was brilliant - a far cry from the childrens story though - this is a grown up Alice!!! But very good and amazing 3D!!!!

Geri Atric said...

Kate ~ Ah yes Alice! Had a glimpse of the trailers on t.v. and am so glad to hear it is a good film. I hated the story as a child - but with red haired Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, it just has to be more funny than scary? Lovely!

Achelois said...

Hi I have just found your blog via bioposy report and saw comment about bronchectasis - which my father has just had diagnosed. No relation to above post as have put you in my reader for later!

Geri Atric said...

Achelois ~ Hi! That's fine. Speak to you later!