Birthday Surprise

Posted by Tiff in Our freeplaylife, Uncategorized | 5 comments

In about a week, it’ll be my thirty something-ish birthday. The chatter between the kids and Hubby has intensified over what birthday presents they are planning to give me. I pretend to be blissfully unaware of it all so I can be surprised when the 12th comes.

The Golfer gets so excited, and so worked up over the whole thing, that he really can’t keep it all to himself. He’s the kind of kid that rarely has a thought that he doesn’t express out loud–when he’s done something really good or really bad it only makes it that much harder to keep it in. It makes my job as mom so much easier when he easily volunteers the who-what-when-where-why of situations without any poking or prodding on my part.

The Naturalist, however, is a much tougher nut to crack. I estimate she tells us about 30% of what she’s actually thinking. And about 10% of what she’s actually doing. When push comes to shove, she can out semanticize President “It depends what your definition of ‘is’ is” Clinton. She’s pretty good at keeping birthday surprises quiet.

So, that being said, it won’t be shocking when I mention what The Golfer and I talked about while grocery shopping today. The Naturalist wasn’t around to rein him in….she knows he’s the weak link and usually can quiet him up when his thoughts (and, thus, discussions) turn to upcoming birthdays. Without her, he’s an open book.

Him: “Hey, Mom. Can I ask you a question?”
Me: “Sure!”
Him: “If we got Mario Sunshine again, but it was NEW, would you play it a lot?”
Me: “I don’t think so…we’ve already beaten the game! Remember how much time we spent playing it?”
Him: “No, I mean, if we got it again and it was a NEW one you never played before…would you play it as much, again?”
Me: “So, you’re talking about a new Mario Sunshine game…but a different kind of one I haven’t played? In that case, yeah, that would be fun!”
Him: “That’s good to know.”

two seconds go by.

Him: “Because there’s something that’s coming out a day before your birthday. Do you know what it is?”
Me: “Is it something you’re getting for my birthday?”
Him: “Yeah!”
Me: “Then I want it to be a surprise! Don’t tell me!”

two seconds go by.

Him: “Are you sure you don’t want to know?”
Me: “Yes!”

two seconds go by.

Him: “I’ll just give you a hint. It’s something to do with Mario!”

two seconds go by.

Him: “And I’ll give you another hint. It has to do with space!”

two seconds go by.

Him: “Do you know what I’m talking about?”
Me: “No, I sure don’t! But it sounds fun!”
Him: “Do you WANT to know what I’m talking about?”
Me: “NO!!”

two seconds go by.

Him: “One last hint…”
Me: “NO! No more, or I’ll know too much!”
Him: “OK, but itssomethingwecanallplaytogetherontheWii!” (the last part just came pouring out of him, there was no stopping it.)

Tonight, The Golfer mentioned that he’d given me some hints about the birthday present. The Naturalist rolled her eyes, sighed, and declared she’d never share a birthday surprise secret with him ever again.