Like Minds

A little bit ago, an old friend came for a visit.  She doesn't live here anymore, but was up visiting family, and we bravely merged our children for an afternoon.  (It was actually quite fun, and made me long to have a few more babies!  Our oldest three match quite well, being the same gender, and less than a year apart in each case.  When I asked Stuart, though, if it made him long for a huge family, he just laughed.)  What a treat to have someone sit down on my bed and rifle through my yarn basket!  (She also rifled my sock yarn bin, exclaiming with pleasure at a "new" yarn, or a particular colour.)  It did my heart good to spend some time in the company of someone who appreciates fibre the same way that I do.  I've often felt a bit envious when I read of other bloggers meeting up with friends "in real life", and have wished for a chance to do the same.  (If my plans work out, I'll have a few more chances later in the month on our camping trip to the Island.)  Like many knitters, I have stash packed away safely in bins, but the yarn in the photo I couldn't bear to put away.  It's too pretty, and I like to pet it every now and then, and gaze at it for inspiration.  Look, now, two more things to add to my Thankful List!  Good friends, and good yarn, what could be better?

We had an Interesting Learning Experience with Brian yesterday.  You see, a week or so ago, the big kids had their annual eye exam, and Katie is in need of a new pair of glasses.  We went into the vision centre to pick out some new frames, and while she was trying them on (and trying them on, and trying them on...), Brian fell in love with a pair of Spiderman frames.  They aren't anything too exciting, plain blue fronts, but have a web pattern on the arms, and his little heart struggles against the injustice that Stuart, Katie and I all wear glasses, and he doesn't.  Yesterday, we popped in to see if Kate's new specs were ready, and visited for a few minutes; then we headed off to the museum for some rainy day fun.  I had just settled down with my sock knitting, when I saw Brian run past in dress up clothes, including a pair of glasses.  "How strange," I thought, "I don't remember them having glasses to try on before?"  Then, I saw the price tag.  After a Very Serious Discussion on what it means to take something that doesn't belong to you, we packed up and headed back to the vision centre so Brian could apologize, and return the frames.  It was very sad for him, and very difficult, but he did it, and I'm glad.  Now, let's hope the poor little guy has learned this lesson!  Whew!

Comments

[angie Cox]

I love the new look of your blog , easy to read and no distractions. I can see why you want to fondle that yarn , I have some special ones put aside for the very purpose .

[Colleen]

ooohhhh, pretty pretty yarn! nice! love the way the lime and purple look together.

Ah Spiderman.... its just too hard sometimes. But its a great chance to teach a valuable lesson. Not all parents appreciate that or handle it the correct way. good for you.

[Nora]

I agree with Colleen - not everyone would know what to do under those circumstances. Good on you - you're a good mama! :)

[Anne]

So glad you and your friend had a yarny natter ; that is why I love having my daugher to stay with us . Think we might bore all around us though!!
Your story re the Spiderman glasses brought back a memory for me. I can remember being very small (under 5yrs) and when going with my Mam into our village shop I took without paying a penny toffee. Now I knew this was wrong and I was quiet all the way home and very afraid of what I had done and when we got back I went into the garden and hid it under some stones as I was ashamed . My Mam saw me and took me and the toffee back to the shop and made me give it back and apologize and to this day I learnt a great lesson as I am sure your little one will . It is a hard lesson but one well learnt , good for you Charity :)

[erin]

How nice to have a visit with Areli, to talk yarny things with! Poor Brian, I hope he's feeling better now. It's a painful lesson, but we all learn and it's for the better.

[Dorothy]

So glad to hear you had a great time with another fibre lover. Those are the best kind of times. I just had a nice weekend teaching my niece to knit.

It takes a lot of bravery to admit to strangers that you have done something very wrong. So glad you got him to do it though. He'll remember that far more than if you had done it for him.

[Gina]

I think most mom's have the opportunity to teach this little lesson. You did the right thing by making it his responsibility to return. So many parents would either have done it for the kid or would not have returned them at all. I'm convinced that the parents who cover up for their kids were themselves covered for and never learned the lesson you taught Brian. You win the Mom Prize in my book.

[Knittypants]

What a great basket of yarn.

Brian's so funny, I am sure we have all done that at least once, but it's hard to make your kids apologize and face up to their wrongs.

[marianne]

What a wonderful time for you and your friend and all the little ones...making good times all round.
Brian....I agree, I think most kids do that, or at least try, I know mine did and they were all taken back to 'fess up' and apologize...and yes, it is tough learning all these lessons but so well worth it. Of course, you're a good Mum. :^)

[Jennifer]

Oh, poor Brian. Growing up is very hard. He'll remember this incident I'm sure.

[Kristy]

Oh what a nifty basket shot. I'm so glad you had a chance to spend some time with your friend. It has been amazing to me how much my affection for knitting has grown since I found my LYS and other knitters. It is encouraging and thrilling just to be able to talk to someone else who understands why I am nearly frustrated to tears by the instruction to M1 with size 1 needles on sock yarn.

Poor Brian...I known lots of children who have struggled with just such an incident. I am glad you took him back and made him fess up. Too many parents make excuses for their children. I am sure it is a lesson he won't soon forget.

[Hasbu]

Oh, gorgeous yarn in your basket!

It must've been hard on Brian, but I'm sure he learnt his lesson. You're a good mum!

[Sarah]

Good work there Mum! Lovely yarn piccie.

[Rain]

No wonder you don't want to put it away, it's really pretty.

It must have been a lot of fun to have Areli visit with the kids.

[Carrie K]

Aw, poor Brian. I'm sure he learned his lesson.

That yarn is pretty and what fun for you to have a friend play Fiber with you! I can't imagine not having anyone! Poor Charity. Even if my BFF's don't knit, they crochet or just love to go the LYS. (Or pretend to.)

[Arianwen]

I have boy-girl twins and Oriana has worn glasses for a year. she wishes she didn't and Inigo cries everytime she gets new ones. Sometimes you just can't win. You handled the spiderman glasses really well. I am not sure how old Brian is but Inigo was pacified with a pair of plastic sun glasses the first time Oriana got her glasses.

[Rebecca]

Oh my goodness!!! I am gasping and giggling. I think all small children are light fingered at some point, you did the right thing and what a great story to tell when he brings his first date home....

[Barbp]

Beautiful yarns. Enjoy your time on your trip. You're a good Mom, when little boys learn their lesson, they grow up into first class men. Good job, hard I know.