Pediatric cancers robs children of a lot of things. One of the most fundamental things is their opportunity to play with other children. Because chemotherapy depletes their immune systems, these kids spend a significant amount of time in isolation. To compensate for her lack of playmates, my Warrior Princess has taken to YouTube and began to live vicariously through a couple of kid youtubers. One series that she is particularly fond of is called “Survival Skills”. It’s about two little boys who survived in the rain forest by building huts, hunting. and living off the land.
Yemayah: Mama when we go home can we go sleep in the forest and build a hut?
Me: Sure we can.
Yemayah: Can we get in the ocean and catch a fish with our hands and cook it over the fire?
Me: Sure we can.
Yemayah: Can we open a tree stick and get out the worms?
Me: Sure we can. But if we go live in the forest you will not have a pacifier or a cellphone, so, you will not be able to order toys from Amazon.
There was a pregnant pause… from the corner of my eye I could see her little mind churning. Finally she said “do we have wifi in the backyard?”
Me: Yes, we do.
Yemayah: (in a somber, defeated voice) ok.
Obviously this is a dilemma that she didn’t think about. I guess she needs a little more time to work out the details.
To be continued…….