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The Very Hungry Caterpillar (aka Why do you blog?)

Posted on November 10, 2011

very hungry caterpillarWhy do you blog?

If I’ve learned nothing else in my many months of blogging, I’ve learned the value of recording the little things. Snippets. Pictures. A thought here. A moment there. And it’s for that reason that I’m writing today’s post.

It’s been a bit of a Mr4 week this week, but that’s okay. He’s off to big school next year. So many of his thoughts and ideas and random utterances will be heard by other people.

Not me.

But this one, today’s one, was mine.

The scene: Mr4, Mr7 and I are in the car, on our way to take Mr7 to his piano lesson. The boys are chatting about this and that. Mr4 tells Mr7 how hungry he is.

“You can’t possibly be hungry,” I say, interrupting. Mr4 is in the midst of a hollow-legs phase. “You ate a lot today.”

“What did you have?” asks Mr7.

“Well,” says Mr4, considering. “I had two pieces of buttery toasters for breakfast. And a milkshake. And half a caramel slice. And an apple. And a ham wrap. And a cheesestick. And some sultanas. And some crackers. And four strawberries…”

Pause.

“And then,” he continued, in exactly the same tone of voice. “I ate one nice green leaf, and I felt much better.”

Pause.

Mr7 and I cracked up, while Mr4 grinned from ear to ear. Did you see what he did there? It seems that Mr4 is learning the art of the punchline.

A L Tait The Fire StarAre you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and a new ‘almost history’ detective series called the Maven & Reeve Mysteries (you’ll find book #1 THE FIRE STAR here).

You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.

38 Comments

  1. Tracy

    That is just adorable, such a clever little one. I love it when kids start to understand more complex ideas like punch lines.

    I just like to like little random stories about my life and share things I like – that’s why I blog 🙂

  2. MultipleMum

    Blogging is the best for the little moments. I would definitely forget them otherwise. I am hoping your very hungry caterpillar has settled in at school. Thanks for Rewinding and hopping! X

  3. Anna @ green tea n toast

    That’s so cute! Kids are the best aren’t they?! I’m blogging to give me something to do on maternity leave, to make myself write this book I’ve always talked about and to record some of our family moments whilst I’m at it.

  4. EmmaK

    I am over from the blog hop! I blog because I can’t seem to stop although my impetus waxes and wanes. I enjoy the experience of writing something short pithy and hopefully memorable and also receiving comments is fun!

  5. Marcy

    Great story! I started blogging mainly as an outlet for my own writing, but I am seeing now how much of my everyday life and family life it is recording. I think it will be really cool to look back on as the years go by.

  6. Veronica @ Mixed Gems

    I blog to share bits and pieces, thoughts and inspirations. I guess they are more small moments but I’ve been wondering if I it’s time I change my goals/focus. Not sure yet so I’ll plod along as I have been. I put some special moments like yours on the blog and others just in my journal. Now I have the issue of how to marry up the two. Hmm….

  7. MultipleMum

    Oh God! Could he be any cuter, funnier or cleverer? Such a great story. Grinning x

  8. Lisa Jay

    Oh this just made me laugh out loud. Very clever. It’s so good to record the funny things our kids say.

  9. Cath

    I blog partly for me, but also to remind others to record and share their stories too. Personally, I love blogging the tiny moments the most though… just like this one about Mr4.

    I have been feeling a bit “blogged out” this week. This post and its comments has reminded me of why I blog… and to appreciate our stories – big and small.

  10. Brenda @ Mira Narnie

    oh yes, they come out with the cutest things hey!!!

    yes i blog for all sorts of reasons, and i love that my kids will look back and see and read some wonderful, crazy things they got up to xx

  11. Megan Blandford

    And once you laughed, did he then go on to say it a thousand times more?!

  12. Kymmie

    Oh. SO. Adorable!

    I love the little things. That’s what my whole blog is about.

    But no real punchlines yet.

    That one is a beauty!

    xx

  13. 4 kids, 20 suitcases and a beagle

    Love Mr 4.

    What a great question though. I think istarted blogging for the little things but now it’s much more for the big picture.

  14. ally

    just love this
    and this is why I blog and journal 🙂

  15. Sela Toki

    I aim for silly small moments. They are the most memorable ones. Just like with that of Mr.4. So cute and I find that it’s so much faster and funner to get on the computer and just tap away on the keyboard. Cute post.

  16. Miss Pink

    Oh man I ADORE ADORE ADORE this. How effing cute!

  17. River

    Ha Ha! You’re growing a wonderful little comedian there.

    I blog because I didn’t think I could….

  18. Rhonda

    i just wrote a post about this too! well a few months ago anyway. i blog because i have too many words, jumbled in my brain and they have to come out somewhere. i blog because there are so many moments which are insignificant and those are really the best moments. i want to capture it all, the big, silly, little, full range of emotions.

  19. Me

    I blog because I am trying to lose weight by doing L&E at home and I find that blogging is a place where I can hold myself accountable for what I eat (or don’t eat) and for the exercise that I do (or don’t do !).

    I am extremely shy and love the interaction with other people as it there is less pressure on me to interact.

    Have a fantastic Friday !

  20. Diminishing Lucy

    He is sensational.

    I do use my blog in that exact fashion.

    Easier than scrapbooking.

    xx

  21. therhythmmethod

    Boom-tish! Love your work Mr 4.
    I blog to write. It keeps the writing muscles supple, and it offers me a window into a world of other mothers/writers who I otherwise would never have met if I hadn’t started blogging.

  22. tinsenpup

    Ooh, nice one, Mr4! I like a mixture of big picture and small moments. I should probably use my blog as a record more, because I do love having those bits and pieces and lord knows, I’m not going to be keeping a personal journal any time soon. Deeper reasons aside, I think I blog, because I am and have always been compulsive about writing and since it’s a given that I will write, it’s really nice when there’s someone to read what you’ve written.

  23. Broot

    That’s awesome.

  24. Mum on the Run

    Oh bless.
    That is gorgeous – and witty.
    I adore when kids think they ‘did a funny’.
    Even moreso, when they actually did.
    🙂

  25. Dorothy Krajewski

    Oh, wow, that is just pure gold! Can’t believe a 4 yo can do that! I really don’t do enough of recording of my kids’ silliness on my blog, but perhaps I should…

  26. cjtato

    CUTE!!!! I love that!

  27. dianneblacklock

    I blog because you told me too!

    (And I owe you for that.)

    I could eat Mr 4 up and I wouldn’t even need a nice green leaf afterwards to feel better 🙂

  28. Amanda

    I think I have mentioned before that I love Mr4 but if it’s possible I now love him just that little bit more.

    Could we swap for a week? My small boy adores books, nearly all books, but will only read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (albeit in German so it’s Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt) reluctantly and with very rapidly turned pages so I never actually get to read whole sentences. Yet it’s one of my childhood favourites.

  29. Mama of 2 boys

    Oh he is cute AND clever! I love when they come out with funny little comments that really show they’ve been listening and learning.
    As for my blog, it’s a mixture of a life record and small moments. I just aim to record as much as I can about the funny, cheeky, naughty, scary, adorable things the boys do. With a few random bits and pieces thrown in about myself and where I’m at, during a particular moment in time xo

  30. cathy@home

    Very cute Mr4 you certainly can tell a good one.
    why I blog good question Mostly a diary of the little and big things that are in my life.

  31. Neenish Arts

    SO so so adorable! I could imagine the moment!
    (ps that’s our fave book read it tonight, again)

  32. Lisa Beavan

    That is so cute!! I’ve lost count how many times I had to read that book. I just started a travel blog as we’re heading off next Wednesday on a road trip with our 2 boys for 2.5 months. I have a vague idea that it’s to keep a record of what we get up to, particularly for our parents but also to read back on later on in life.

    It’s likely I won’t continue on our return but I’m having fun writing it at the moment!

  33. no-one

    I started blogging because my mother couldn’t get something working on hers, so I started one to try and figure out the problem she was having.

    I guess I kept doing it because I find that people listen to me more if they read what I have to say, than if they’re hearing me say it.

  34. Kelly Exeter

    I blog just to write and I love your Mr 4 🙂

  35. Jodi @ The Scribble Den

    Oh what a precious moment. They learn so fast don’t they.

    I blog for many reasons.

    I blog as a record of my life. The big moments, the little moments and to remind me who I am. It teaches me to be honest and allows me to verbalise my internal headspace.

    I blog to practice my writing and to connect with others.

    I also blog for my children. My Mum died when I was 15. I felt I didn’t know who she was, inside, I don’t want my kids to feel the same so it is partly my journal. This is why I it forces me to be honest.

  36. Emily

    That is divine! Thank you for the chuckle, Mr4.

    I blog to keep myself sane. To share funny stories, laugh, cry, vent, and, most importantly, procrastinate. Back to work…

  37. alliecat

    Too too gorgeous.

    I blog for all those reasons. To get things off my chest, to record snippets and happy snaps. To brag, whinge, complain, celebrate and berate. Whatever tickles my fancy. Stories like these are what makes blogs go around. Or something!

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