Imagination

My kids have amazing and wonderful imaginations.

Jackie Chan can entertain himself for hours by simply playing in his imagination.

Bruce Lee needs props.

And Bruce Lee likes to colour. With markers. And while we try to encourage colouring on paper more often than not the couch becomes Bruce Lee's canvas and is magically transformed into an original work of art a la Crayola (thank goodness for super strong stain guard).

The other morning Bruce Lee was colouring - on paper. Quietly and happily. I was sipping coffee and watching some mind numbing cartoon when I remembered that it had been three days since I put the washing machine on and that the towels that were still in the washing machine were probably growing a new superpower mold and I should probably take care of them before the mold killed us all.

Bruce Lee was so content and absorbed in his artwork I decided to just slip out of the room and take care of the laundry.

I was downstairs for a while and it became very very quiet upstairs. Too quiet.

I was bracing myself for some new Jackson Pollock inspired creation on the walls or furniture before heading upstairs when I heard Bruce Lee call out for me ...

"Mommy!"

"What buddy? Whatcha doing?"

"Mommy!"

"I'm downstairs baby ... hang on."

"Hang on!" (Bruce Lee will often repeat whatever someone says to him.)

"I Hulk Mommy."

"I can't really hear you ... hold on ... I'm coming upstairs."

"I'm coming Mommy, I'm Hulk."

At this point I'm on my way upstairs when I hear Bruce Lee running towards the stairs shouting something about being the Hulk.

I smiled. He was learning to play in his imagination - heavily influenced by his older brother - but learning to imagine all the same.

As I came up the stairs Bruce Lee came running over and kept repeating "I Hulk Mommy, I Hulk. Look, see. I Hulk."

He was pointing down.

It took me a moment to put all the pieces together ...

Bruce Lee had coloured his feet completely green. With green marker. And most of one hand. And part of his cheek.

He had coloured his feet and hand and cheek green. To be the Hulk.

Seriously ... mornings just do not get any better ...

(He used GREEN marker. Bruce Lee is a very smart little boy.)