"Wilbur is sad mommy."

Wilbur is the name we've given to the full-size plastic whale we've adopted at the Museum of Nature that hangs in the enclosed plexiglass space that resembles a pool.  You can see the enclosure in the building by clicking here.

Me:  Why is Wilbur sad?
Matteo:  He misses his mommy?
Me:  Like when you're at preschool and you miss your mommy?
Matteo:  Yes, we go see Wilbur again.

Matteo has always been very sensitive to animals, real ones, our cats, my sisters' and cousin's dogs, as well at the neighbourhood dogs we encounter.  He often pretends to be a cat or a dog. Matteo has also loved his stuffies and has many that encircle his bed.

Lately we have started to adopt fictional animals like this whale that Matteo kept talking about since we first saw it this summer on holidays. He always wants me to drive by it, stop, get out of the car and walk towards it. And when we're in the museum he has to go back to it numerous times. The last time we were there we named him.  If we can, we do drive by to check on him. Lately he's started to tell me why he wants to go and see Wilbur and the above conversation takes place.  When we drive by I always show him that Wilbur is fine. Matteo still has a hard time being dropped off at preschool. His transition from one toddler room to the next took almost a month before he wouldn't cry.   For preschool it seems to be taking longer also because of the changes they have been making. One being that the daycare centre used to have a kindergarten program but with full day kindergarten now available, they have transitioned into two preschool rooms. Matteo is in the senior group but through all these changes, Matteo is still having trouble.  He is so happy when I pick him up and doesn't want to leave, but mornings, especially Mondays, he still cries.  So I think with the whale he is working out his own issues of being away from his mommy like the whale is.

As of this weekend, we now also have 101 dalmations (imaginary ones of course) living with us. Matteo has been watching the movie for a few weeks and this weekend he started to tell me that the dogs were coming up to bed with him. I continued to play along and Matteo is thrilled and full of laughing when I try to get the puppies to get off his bed or when I try to make sure that everyone gets food to eat.  So not sure what Matteo is working out with the dalmations but I will continue to encourage him imaginary life in addition to his love and sensitivity to animals....then again we made need a bigger house if he continues to bring more and more animals to live with us!!