Do you ever wonder if your kids can actually see things that you can’t? I know Jade’s eyesight is far better than mine, but I’m pretty sure I would spot a fish on our ceiling, or a chicken on our piano. We were sitting together in the rocking chair in the living room, Jade relaxing with a bottle after the walk we had with Nanuq (pleasant at -2° C). We were rocking and Jade would occasionally point to some random spot and tell me there was an animal there. She seems to be getting a bit of a cold again, but I don’t think she’s sick enough to be hallucinating.
I know it’s probably just her imagination and she’s just practicing her words, but I think it’s such a lovely, fanciful idea that children might be able to see things we’ve forgotten how to see.
It reminds me of a book I have on my juvenile fiction bookshelf: Julie, by Cora Taylor (who happens to be a Canadian author). The little girl in the book can see things that others can’t and also develops psychic powers. One of my favourite parts is a scene where Julie points at the autumn leaves falling from a tree and describes them as “dancers”; her family wonders where she could have learned about ballerinas, little knowing that she can actually see fairies flitting about in the foliage. (Apologies for the artless attempt at alliteration — gah! Can’t stop!)
Julie’s abilities turn out to be quite a burden and responsibility for her, and I’m not so sure I’d want Jade to have to deal with that. But the idea does make me feel vaguely nostalgic; I wish I could recapture some of the imagination I know I once had.
Allison DuBois’ books talk about if your kids are able to see spirits and how to help them cultivate this gift within them… very fascinating!!! I’ve never seen Maggie *see* anything that wasn’t there, but I hope to someday – that would be so amazing for her!!!