LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

For the past five days, I've been spending time building sand castles at the park, braving the freezing waters of a wading pool, reading about the exploits of Curious George and learning how to turn a ten minute walk around the block into a one hour safari through a jungle of flower beds, fallen branches and loose gravel laneways.

I've shared these adventures with my two and a half year old granddaughter Isla who awaits the birth of a new sibling any day now.

Although a precocious little girl who knows the difference between pink and purple, parrots and toucans, triangles and squares, it’s sometimes easy to forget that she lives in a much different world than you or I as evidenced by the following story.

Isla and her mom, Janice, attended a lunchtime concert in the park last Thursday with a few friends. As Isla's interest began to wane, mom offered her a granola bar. Two nearby six month olds reached for the treat but Isla responded,

"You can't have this. You might choke."

Astonished mothers within earshot were taken aback with Isla's mature comment.

"Why would the babies choke?" asked her mother.

"Because babies don't have any teeth,” Isla said.

Janice was equally surprised and proud until Isla added,

“Yes Mommy, babies don’t have any teeth because the big bad wolf took them.”

 No doubt, Isla is still a sunshine bright little girl with a very big imagination.

Although I’m not sure when she will leave her fairy tale world behind, I know for certain that she will make a creative, adventurous and loving best friend for her new sibling.