Red Clay Wings

BAT PARTY

One of the many things Greta loves with a passion these days is bats. The first time I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, I suggested going to the river, a party with kids, cooking out, etc. She said she would like to put on a show with all kids and an audience. The show would include bats, wolves, and ghosts. While I did entertain that idea for a little while, I decided to work with her at toning it down to something a little simpler. (I have to wonder if times like this are the reason one of her favorite songs has the lyrics, Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord Take away these chains from me My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free Lord take away these chains from me Some birds’ feathers are too bright to be caged I know I’m not that colorful but a bird just the same Open up your gate now, let me put down my load So I can feel at ease and go back to my home) I just didn't know if I could gather the kids together, come up with a story and costumes, turn it into a play, and direct it all in one shot. As an alternative, she chose a bat party. Now that, I said, is something I can work with. Thank you, Greta, for being adaptable.

So, we turned her room into a "cave" which was successfully dark. We made paper bats with each kids' picture on the head and hid them in the cave. Using flashlights, the kids searched for their bat as well as played in the cave with glowing bracelets and glow-in-the-dark lizards.

They also painted a bat shape on t-shirts with glow-in-the-dark fabric paint.

One thing about Greta is she likes to be the director. She is most comfortable in situations that she planned herself. To go along with someone else's plan or tradition is not her favorite thing to do, especially if it involves focusing on her. Don't get me wrong -- she loves attention, and sometimes demands it, but it has to be on her terms. So we sang "Happy Birthday" to her from the other room and all the kids except Greta blew out the candles on her bat cake.