Why 5 year olds don’t play poker!!!

October 14, 2009

I’m writing this on Tuesday night, October 13… 2009 - The 5th birthday of my 3rd child – Quinli Mei Nason… And she loves to celebrate!  Her mom made her a two layer chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting AND chocolate frosting… and cream cheese frosted cookies to take to pre-school.

Last night, I signed a dozen copies of my children’s book – HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUNNY – and Quinli autographed each one next to the character in the book based on her – MANGO MEI.  And this morning, we loaded up the books and CDs(that go with the book) and cookies and blanket (for naps) and purse and lunch and went off to pre-school.  WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH POKER – you ask?!?!

Have you ever heard of a poker face – you know… you bet a lot making them think you have a huge hand when you don’t – or you bet a little making them think you don’t have much so that you can suck them in and take all their cash a little later – Either way, you need a poker face.  You don’t want them to know what you think, or feel, or anticipate, or fear, etc.  Your face and language and betting style and body language all need to look the same all the time.  But 5 year olds don’t get this… at least, not my 5 year old.  You always know what she thinks and feels and anticipates and fears, etc.

So… back to pre-school – we walk in with a 4yr old friend of hers that is in her class… beautiful little red head girl with a big smile and freckles.  Quinli was clearly exited about her birthday and announced to everyone who would listen that she was five – and she held up all five fingers on her little right hand to prove it!  Now – another piece of information… we are having a party for Quinli on Thursday, Oct. 15 at a Build a Bear shop at the mall…but, she could only invite 6 people… and that includes her and her sister.  Of course she would have loved to have 30 or 40 but we can barely afford 6…

And to my horror..it happened.. we hadn’t talked about it, I hadn’t prepared her for school and her friends and the fact that she doesn’t need to tell everyone everything… With a huge smile on her face (it was her birthday) but a tad bit of disappointment (’cause she wanted everyone there), she looked at the cute little red head girl with the pretty smile and cute freckles and said…

“I’m 5 and we are having a party at Build a Bear on Thursday but YOU are not invited ’cause we could only invite 6 people and I had to invite my other friends so you can’t come!”

No poker face!  Just straight up ‘that’s the facts jack’ sort of reality.  Of course, the little girl burst into tears and I could say nothing… what do you say… what does her mother say?  We just looked at the little girls in amazement – ouch – Quinli wasn’t trying to be rude… just telling it like it is…

You know… “I have aces and you don’t!!!”

Fortunately, Quinli recovered quickly and told the little girl that she brought her a present – a book… and to my amazement..the tears were gone and they were once again great friends.  Kind of like poker.  I’ll beat you today – brag about it to all my friends – and then we’ll meet same time, same place, next week!  I love kids.. and poker!

I fold!

Much love,

Wally

Quinli is 5 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!