Of Snails and Salamanders

  I have to confess that one of my favorite pass times is to try to ruffle my wife feathers. Yes, I know this is hazardous to my well being, but I enjoy living on the edge. One the best ways that I have found over the last two years to get a reaction out of her is, to pin some of Apollo's character traits on Melanie's genetics, i.e., temper tantrums, stubbornness, defiance, just to name a few. There is one trait that I will say is all Melly, although she will dispute this one as well (but we all know better), is the non stop talking! I was not exaggerating at all in my previous posts where I mention that Apollo talks all the time. He literally does talk... all the time. He is constantly giving a play by play narration of everything that he does. In the car he can be even more verbal as he counts trees, and cars, and houses, and on and on and on. He will even tell you he is tired a hundred times during his no stop ramblings, however, he wont stop talking long enough to fall asleep.

Snail with shell

Two spiders

Two wormies

  In conjunction with all this talking, Apollo's imagination is really on high speed developmental mode. I am fascinated with this process and watching it unfold. I see the spark of realization in his eyes, as he makes a correlation between the imaginary and real. A few months ago, Apollo was looking at an "Owee" on his finger. As he extended only his index and middle finger, I could see his wheels turn as he slowly moved his two fingers around. Gone was all the thoughts of his wounded finger. His eyes widened.."Look dada! Its a snail!" Keep in mind, that we have had a constant supply of "pet" garden snails recently, and he is enamored with them, especially their eyes. I know some of this has been helped along by the use of sign language when he was younger, in fact, he still uses the sign for more when he really likes something and wants more. As much as it pains me, I also give Melly a lot  of credit for this, as she does help reinforce his signing abilities. After the snail, came several other critters; worms, spiders, and snakes. He is still trying to come up with a salamander or salaman'ter as he calls it.
  We have a tank full of pollywogs right now that we have had since they were eggs. Apollo loves to reach through the glass and pull out an imaginary tadpole and hold him in his hand. "See my woggy-wog? He's so cute!"

"This is a snake"

  Apollo has a love for all critters. If it moves, he loves it. He will stop and talk to even the smallest ant, point out a bee on a flower, or a beetle on the dirt. He can be relentless in his quest to go hunt for salamanders or snails or worms. If he is not obliged, this can lead to a melt down, especially if he is tired or sick.
  I have to say that the salamander is his favorite right now. He talks about them in his sleep. It will be the first word that he utters upon waking. He will ask several times a day to go find a salamander. He even differentiates between baby, mommy and daddy salamander. He will specify which one he has when you catch it.
  Apollo even likes to pretend that he is a salamander and asks you to feed him salamander food. The amazing part is, as much as he loves salamanders, he is a great sport about letting them go. He may not want to, but he will part ways with them, understanding that they want to go find their mommy or daddy or family. "By salamander! See you."

"Salaman'ter"

  We are often commissioned by Apollo to draw a salamander or snail on the computer or a piece of paper. He will watch intently as you draw it several times, and then will attempt to draw it himself. I love this creative side and watching it unfold and develop before my eyes. The inquisitive nature of a child is to be admired. To view everything from their perspective is refreshing, new, and revitalizing. If only to spend one hour a week to watch, interact, and listen... truly listen to what they actually are saying amongst all the babbling, you will find that youthfulness that slowly becomes dormant in us as we become adults. I begin to see things in a different light, and realize that somethings in life really are that simple.
  At the risk of sounding silly, the Peter Pan story has more meaning to me now as an adult. Sure, it has always had a story and a message, but beyond that boy who refused to grow up, there is that realization that at some point we became "pirates" or adults, and lost our ability to just get lost in our imagination and stay forever young.