Spirit Animal

The other day Alicia started a family discussion about spirit animals. She sees herself as a deer. That's perfect for her. Beautiful and gentle. 

Andrew said he's maybe a fox and that was perfect too--he has the coloring and the cunning for it.

We decided Eliza would be a kitty because she's adorable, self-interested and snuggly.

 I thought Megan could maybe be a koala because she gives the best, tightest hugs.

Rachel I see as maybe an owl. She loves to observe others and is wise and quietly ambitious.

The kids were being very silly about Rex. They said maybe he's a baboon but we looked it up and they're too fierce for him. Andrew said maybe a proboscis monkey. Poor guy. I decided to suggest something less hideous: a panda bear. (It works because he's very lovable--as long as you don't poke the bear. Oh, and he has a super white belly).

Look at that. He's hugging Megan.

The last idea for Rex was a rooster. Not bad, really. He loves to get up early and can act as an alarm clock to the rest of us as he runs on the treadmill over our heads at 4 in the morning. And he does a little jig called "The Rex Shuffle" that's reminiscent of an awkward, strutting rooster.

Then me. Alicia started off saying I could be a mountain lion. Well, OK. I have the right coloring and they like to be solitary, and can sometimes be fierce. There was also talk of my being a sloth. Because I DO like to conserve energy. 

Eliza listened to the other ideas for me but said nothing. The next day she said, "Mom, I know what your spirit animal is." 

I said, "Oh really? What is it?" 

She said, "The kind of animal that doesn't want their children to get sunburned!" 

Yeah, I think she nailed it.