I fear that Maurice Sendak is becoming a negative influence on Linus. It all started innocently enough. Linus would just randomly quote In the Night Kitchen. No big deal, kind of cute. Then he started using the quotes in context, usually when baking or asking for milk. My child's a genius I tell you.
Then Linus developed an affinity for Pierre. Suddenly, I was spending half my day living with a lion, lots of roaring. At meals, he would repeatedly inform me that he had eaten Pierre. A little disturbing. Thanks to Pierre, Linus has a new saying, "I don't care." Personally, I don't care for this new saying.
And then for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to read Linus, Outside Over There. If you aren't familiar with the plot, a big sister isn't paying attention so goblins come and take her baby sister away and leave an ice baby in its place. It's very creepy. Of course, Linus felt the need to internalize this story as well and now likes to threaten to take my baby away.
This afternoon Linus decided to combine all these violent acts while playing dress up.
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| Feeling an impending sense of doom, Eileen already has Dr. Moscovitz on the phone. |
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| Shark Attack! |
I realize that in Maurice Sendak books adults are portrayed in less than friendly terms--Wild Things were inspired by his aunts and uncles, adults in stories don't pay much attention to the children. I love Maurice Sendak, but I think we may have to stick to Chicken Soup with Rice and Alligators All Around until Linus gets some of this aggression out.
Just when I think your kids can't get any cuter... Seriously, that "eating" didn't look too aggressive. It looked a lot like kissing to me. Linus may have found a great way to work out some sibling rivalry impulses. Or, it might be that part of him is afraid something MIGHT happen to Eileen, so this is a way of acting it out and seeing that it turns out okay. (Ok, Auntie Therapist is done now.)
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