Ignorance is Bliss

The other day Caitlyn was playing on the computer. She was on a website that I had never visited with her before. So while she was on it, I was sitting at the dining room table watching her from behind. Just to make sure that there wasn't anything crazy on it. It was a Nickelodeon website, so I was fairly certain that it was okay, but I am that parent that thinks way too many kids are on the internet unsupervised.

So the site that she was on, she was creating a character for. She had to choose the color of her eyes and hair, etc. Then came the part to choose her skin color. And I watched her kind of go through the choices, not sure which one to pick. Finally she looked at me and said...

"Mom, what color is my skin?"

I replied that it was a pinkish, peach, white color.

She chose the color accordingly. And went about playing the game.

I was truly stunned by this. Not because she didn't know what color her own skin was. But by the fact that she obviously doesn't see any significant difference in her skin color to many of the other skin colors they had as options. I know that prejudice is a learned behavior. Kids generally learn it from their parents. And I had thought that by 6 years old, Caitlyn would have realized that her skin is white and not brown or yellow or whatever other color. I feel great knowing that to her, her skin seems no different that the spanish child she goes to school with or the asain child she plays with.

I can only hope that she maintains this ignorance for many years to come. But unfortunately, I know that isn't possible.

We are off for the lake again today. We come home on Sunday and then head out for Disney on Tuesday. I will have to do a few posts when I return of nothing but pictures. (Not type at all, equivalent to not speaking???? Truly that will be a feat for me;))

Fisherman

My dad loves to fish. He would do this before anything else in the world. He has loved fishing for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I would go with him on ocassion, though it became "gross" to me once I hit 11 years old it would seem.

Caitlyn has been asking to go fishing with Grampa or Uncle Bobby. It didn't matter which one took her, as long as she was fishing.

Today, Cate went fishing with her Grampa and had an amazing time. And I am fairly certain that my father had an equally amazing experience. I know that it is certainly something that Caitlyn will remember forever :)

...an added bonus....she even caught fish :) When she came home, she quickly told me about ALL the fish that were caught and how giant they were. Not only did Grampa teach her some fishing basics, he also taught her the most important lesson: telling some fishermen tales :P

Vacation One

We have returned from vacation number one. I say vacation number one because it seems that the entire month of July is going to be spent travelling somewhere. Both as a family and separately.

We spent 5 glorious days at the cottage in Waupaca. This is the place that Matt's family has been going to since he was an infant. They have been going there since his mother was 6 years old. So they have some history there. And Matt has always wanted his daughter to love it there as much as he does. And I think his wish has come true.

My little lady, who is usually very timid when it comes to physical activities, those that require gross motor coordination, got her little ass on a tube and went tubing. I was stunned. Flabbergasted. Floored. Couldn't believe my eyes that this child was actually doing this.


And she did it a few times so I know it wasn't a fluke. I know the pictures are hard to see, but I certainly don't have the energy to zoom in on them and save them. Lazy=Nancy.

Getting ready to go


Caitlyn is on the right with her Uncle Bernard and Danny is on the left. (If she were to go by herself in that tube I probably would have had a coronary.



There was also plenty of time to just play and have fun. She is bound and determined to get this hula hooping thing no matter what!


After all the tubing and hula hooping, she was just wiped out and ready to go home.




And I think this has to be my favorite picture from the trip. Could these kids and Grandma Rita look any happier???? I don't think so!


Next week I am off to Country Thunder with the girls (woot!!) and Matt is off to the lake again for the annual Daddy/Daughter vacation. Mostly because it helps soothe the girl during my absence, but it is a fabulous thing for them to do together. And something that I know Caitlyn will grow up remembering forever.

2 weeks after that, it's back up to the lake for all 3 of us. 2 days after we get home, it's off to Disney. So it seems that for the month of July I will be doing nothing but packing, unpacking, doing laundry, and packing again. Only to unpack and wash it all again.