Midnight

When I was younger, I had an imaginary friend zoo. Yes that's right... a zoo. Well, maybe more like a farm... or a menagerie. Anyway, call it what you want, but it was not a person. No little friend that spoke to me or ate with me. I clearly remember in third grade, sitting there while the teacher was talking and then thinking, my bird is sitting on my friend's shoulder!! I giggled, then proceeded to tell her that Tweet, my bird, was sitting on her shoulder! Oh the look!! You'd have thought I had sprung two heads!! She looked at me like I was crazy because, of course, there was no bird sitting on her shoulder!! After that, I only told a select few about my "friends."

The bird in third grade was probably my first imaginary animal.  The first that I can remember. There were more at that time, but the bird was the closest to me. In fourth grade, Midnight entered my life. Midnight was a beautiful black stallion that I found in the baseball field of my school. Like all of my "friends," he did not speak to me. He was like any real horse, except he lived in my backyard instead of a stable. He also came with a white mare and a spotted black and white foal. Whitey and Spotty, if you must know their names. For the next three years or so, these horses went everywhere with me! They went on family camping trips, to the grocery store, to my grandparents' house... they simply ran along side the family van along the freeway. Now I know what you are thinking, "She must have been a loner" or "This chick is crazy!" No... I was not a loner, I had many friends, and I may be a little crazy, but my imagination has always been vivid!

So, imagine my surprise (and glee) when Missy walked up to me and asked me where her horse was!!! Yes, that's right!! My 3-year-old has an imaginary horse!! I was so excited! Inside, I was jumping up and down... outside, I had to keep my cool... I don't want my hubby to think I'm completely insane! He knows about Midnight and the others, but I don't think he realizes the depth of these "friends." I asked Missy what her horse looked like and what the name was and if it was a boy or a girl. Galahap is black with pink streaks in his black hair. "He wuvs to gawup (gallop) weally weally fast," she told me as she demonstrated around the coffee table. :) I am so excited about her new friend and intend to encourage her in this, but not force her into keeping these friends. She has also mentioned a pink giraffe with green spots, but she doesn't have a name as Missy says she is "wittle bit scared of da giraffe."  :) I love this age we are entering! Pretending. Imagination. AAAHHHH!! It's just so much fun! Dress-up was the beginning of the imaginative play in our house... and it's an everyday thing! But more on that later. :)

The tiger is rawr-ing at the kitty!

Did you have any imaginary friends or animals growing up? What about your kids?

Until next time!

~Monica