Robot Dada

Oh so many funny things happen when you live with a three-year-old who has a very active imagination... and parents who help to feed it! 

The other night, Zane, Jody and I were on the couch right before it was time for Zane to go to bed. I think Jody was tickling Zane or something when Zane declared, "I don't love you, Dada! I only love Mama. I'm Mama's boy!" And he came over to my side of the couch and wrapped his arms around me. (He really always has been a mama's boy, too!) So I said, "That's not very nice, Zane. Poor Dada... what are we going to do? Should we get you a new Dada?" Zane grinned and said, "Yeah!! I don't love you, Dada. I want a Robot Dada!" Jody and I just looked at each other and cracked up! Where does he get these things?

So Jody, to play along with him, got up and said that he was leaving. He got about halfway to our pantry door (which leads through to the garage) and Zane suddenly looked very worried. I told him, "Uh-oh Zane. Daddy's leaving. You made him sad." As Jody opened the pantry door, Zane lost it! He started bawling! After a second, Jody reappeared, walking very stiffly. Zane paused, but didn't quite know what to think. Then Jody said, "I... am... Robot... Dada..." and continued into the living room. Zane smiled a little bit, and stood up from the couch. Jody said, "What... do... you... want... to... play...?" And Zane caught on quickly. He ran across the room and yelled, "Let's play tag, Robot Dada! Come and catch me!!" So Jody, moving all slow and rigid, started across the room. Zane ran around a little bit, but then began to grow bored because Robot Dada wasn't moving fast enough to catch him. So he picked up the paper airplane that Jody had made him earlier (and that he treasured VERY dearly because Daddy made it just for him), and said, "Let's play airplane now!" (He and Jody had been throwing it back and forth earlier.) So Jody, as Robot Dada, roughly picked up the plane, and promptly ripped and crumpled it up as he said, "Robot... Dada... does... not... know... how... to... be... gentle..." Zane absolutely lost it again!! OMG, it was soooo funny! (Not to poor Zane, but I was dying!!) He rescued the demolished plane, and ran to me all upset. Jody went on, "Do... you... want... Real... Dada... back?" And through the tears, Zane nodded.

So Jody went back to the pantry, and returned as Real Dada. He saw the plane in Zane's hand and asked, "What happened?" (How he was keeping a straight face at this point, I don't know!) So Zane explained to his Real Dada all about Robot Dada. And then, exactly to be expected went on, "I love you Dada. I don't want Robot Dada. I want you.... can you make me a new airplane?" 

So the new airplane was made, and Zane now realizes how much he loves his "Real Dada." It hardly gets any better than that!