The books that influence our lives

Books have always been influential to me. Sometimes, when the protagonist in a book I'm reading is depressed or directionless, I feel depressed or directionless. Mostly, though, I just want to eat whatever they're eating. Ask Jon. There will be a brief description of a meal, and I just won't be satisfied until I've consumed the same thing. And no, it's not only when I'm pregnant.

Zephyr has loved books since his first few weeks of life. Well, it's hard to know if he really loved them then, but since he wasn't able to wiggle away from the pages we would put in his field of vision, he got used to them. I still remember Jon pointing out which pages were Zephyr's "favorites, " meaning he looked at them longest before shifting focus.

Zephyr has memorized significant portions, and in some cases, the entire text of several of his favorite books. This has come in handy. A few months ago Zephyr was having a major meltdown on the way home from playgroup. None of the usual distractions (want to sing a song? what would you like for lunch?) were working. In a sudden Mommy inspiration, I asked him what his favorite page was from Todd Parr's Do's and Don’ts. "Don't take a bath with your dog!" he said. We spent the rest of the car trip playing a little game. I would recite the "Do" pages, and he would follow with the corresponding "Don't" page:
N: Do give kisses to everyone you love.
Z: Don't kiss a cootie bug!
N: Do eat lunch with a monkey.
Z: Don't eat his bananas!
This little activity successfully distracted him the rest of the way home. And impressed the heck out of me, as at the time I had no idea he had that kind of memory. We did our little routine again when Dada came home for lunch. And again when we were on the phone with Grandma. And again the next time we visited Mimo. And again...

Some of Zephyr's favorite games to play with Dada were inspired by books. The cover of Oh, David features a picture of David himself spilling a box of Cheerios on the floor. Zephyr decided he wanted to spill cereal, but we quickly came up with an alternative- how about spilling some toy wooden rings, instead? The game goes like this: Zephyr says he wants to spill the cereal, and gets the toy. Jon says, "No, David, don't spill the cereal!" with great emotion. Zephyr turns the toy over, a dozen wooden rings scattering all over the floor. Jon raises both hands to his head, exclaiming "Oh, David!" as though in turmoil while Zephyr bursts into a fit of giggles. Then he picks up the rings and they do it all again.

Then there's the ever-popular Hop On Pop game. Much less explanation is needed. Zephyr hops on Pop, while Pop breathlessly sputters, "NO! YOU MUST NOT HOP ON POP!"

I'm glad Zephyr distinguishes between Games You Play With Dada and Games You Play With Mommy!