Squirrels

Joel loves squirrels.  It was really Brent who started it.  When he planted grass a few years ago he would give the job to Colin during the day to keep the squirrels from digging in his grass.  So Colin would see one out the window - run outside and yell "hey you squirrels - stay out of our grass or I'll cut you into pieces and eat you for dinner"  Gross but thats what he always said.  And then this fall Brent planted more grass.  And gave Joel the job.  But Joel LOVES squirrels so it's turned into an all the time thing. He will see one out the window and go outside and chase it down.  I wont let him out in the front yard because he'll run right into the street after a squirrel but he will run after them in the backyard all day.  Joel really wants to catch one. And by now the squirrels are playing with him I think. They will let him get close now and then run away. 

On our way to the bus stop last week we saw a squished squirrel.  That one didn't make it across the street without getting hit by a car.  Joel saw it and now every time we walk to and from the bus stopwe have to stop by the squished squirrel.  Its so gross but its actually helped Joel realize why he can't run out into the street.   And he was running ALL THE TIME out in the street or wiggling from our hands in the parking lots. Spankings weren't working. I told him that the squirrel didn't hold his mommy or daddy's hand and a car hit him and now he is squished. 

Last night walking in a parking lot for Colin's soccer pizza party Joel wanted to run free but I just leaned down and said "squished squirrel Joel" and he held tight to my hand.  It might not be a conventional way to parent our child but for now "squished squirrel" is working and I'm very glad.