The Girl Who Learned To Kneel

Dear Elsie,

You only have one grandma now, a fact that has been making me quite low of late.

A little less weighty is the fact that you are developing rock hard abs through your Elsie version of a crunch. You lift your head (which is probably more than half your body weight – so good for you) AND your legs at the same time, then punch your abs like you know you’re the champion of the world. I certainly agree.

I am starting to read your signals like a champion of the world…um…on occasion…sometimes…yeah. Anyway, when you flick your eye lids all delicate-like, it means you’re tired and want to nap. And if I respond immediately, you will go down with little protest. If I doddle, and finish my task, conversation, application of eyeliner, you name it, everything goes to hell.

It’s that simple.

But back to your abs. You are strong, my dear. Your legs are strong. Your back is strong. And your grip is monster-like. I would like to believe your impeccable muscle tone comes from your mama. What do you mean, it’s not all about me? It certainly is all about me unless, of course, it’s all about you…let’s ask Daddy.

You rolled over today when I wasn’t looking. Back to front. Front to back has been in your physical vocabulary for a while now. But back to front, big deal. Next time don’t be so covert about it. Share, share, share your prowess. Okay?

I haven’t been feeling the best these last few weeks in Regina, which is making it difficult for Daddy to finish his thesis. We need the thesis gods to descend and pave the way. Okay, Elsie Pelsie. I’ll meet you in the prayer room in a child’s pose prostration. Right, we don’t have a prayer room in Regina or in Toronto for that matter. But we should. And right, you don’t do child’s pose on command.

But you do roll over back to front.

It’s a good day. Really.

Excuse me while I prepare myself to roll around on a theatre floor. The radio stations that interviewed us about our play were all taken with the notion of us rolling around on the ground. Like, where did we learn to do all that?

Um…Europe.

That’s the best answer. Really.