My Empathetic Hadrien

Sometime June of this year, I read "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" to Hadrien. In the story, the bus driver asks the audience to make sure the determined little pigeon doesn't drive the bus. I'd read each line to him and ask him if he would let the pigeon drive the bus. At first, Hadrien decidedly said "no"! Until the clever little pigeon promised to be his best friend or give him 5 bucks and complained that he never got to do anything. I guess the pigeon pushed the right buttons it didn't take long until Hadrien's lips quivered, his eyes swelled with tears and he asked me "But why mommy? Why can't he drive the bus?" Needless to say, by the end of the story, my sweet compassionate 3 year old cried and was inconsolable - even if by then, the crafty little pigeon had his eyes set on driving a truck!

As we read the book over and over and over in the days, weeks and months that followed, Hadrien memorized each page and could read the book by himself. But instead of saying "don't let the pigeon drive the bus", he'd say "yes, let the pigeon drive the bus!"

Last night, I read the sequel "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!" to Baz and Hadrien. Anticipating that Hadrien would take the side of the pigeon, I solicited Baz's help. As expected, Hadrien quickly succumbed to the pigeon's attempts at conversation so that he could stay up late. Even as Baz warned Hadrien not to answer the pigeon's questions, there was no stopping Hadrien :)

______

Here's a picture of my little mokong. I was working on the computer yesterday when he came up to me excitedly - and .... lo and behold!!!!