Thorny issues

We have toy food. Lots of it. There are vegetables, fruits, meat, wooden “food groups” collections, condiments, salad fixings. We also have a toy kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and oven. And a sink that doesn’t work. Somewhat jokingly, I suggested that we make “little girl soup” one day, and I put some small dolls into the pot. I added lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots. After the initial shock and horror (“Daddy, you can’t do THAT!”), now my daughter often makes “little girl soup.” Sometimes, she switches it up to make “little girl stew” with stew vegetables, and presumably, less water. I hope she doesn’t shock other kids at preschool or a playdate with her specialty.

We did a puppet show recently. During the intermission, she told me that the dinosaur was hungry, and since he was a carnivore (with sharp teeth, as opposed to an herbivore with flat teeth), he needed to eat meat. Before I could fetch the toy steak or hot dog, she had fed him one of the audience members, a bear. I protested. You can’t feed the audience to the actor! They came to see the show, not be eaten! But she told me, the other audience members could now enjoy a much better show that the dinosaur was well fed. She said, “It’s OK, Daddy. They are only toys.” So we’ve gone from cannibalism to sacrifice.

I was next surprised when the car that Doggy was driving was “stolen” by the pair of “Little Apple horse” and Unicorn, a duo of two small similar toys. She explained, “They had to steal the car, because they live far away. Really far away. They had no choice. They had to do it.” And she used her low, sad voice to explain.

I countered, “Why didn’t they ask for a ride? Why didn’t they take the bus?”

“No one would give them a ride because they don’t know them. And they have no money. So they HAD to steal the car.”

“Why didn’t they get a job? You can’t just steal someone else’s car just because you have no money and live far away!” And just how did they get here, so far from their home anyway? But my little girl wouldn’t give in. I’m not sure if the backstory comes from a story she had heard, a book, or a TV show. Or if I should be worried. But I was taken aback. Now we’ve moved on to Thelma and Louise territory.

Overall, I think my daughter has wonderful sensibilities, and she is always kind and considerate. I try to set a good example for her. I just hope I haven’t led her astray in our recent play experiences…