POSTS TAGGED : Caillou

Caillou Has Left the Building

Caillou Has Left the Building

It’s one of those days I’ve dreamed about for a good five years now. I honestly thought it would never come. But, it has. Oh yes, it has!

Caillou has left the building. As in the building, I am referring to my house. And I couldn’t be happier! If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know I have a hate-hate relationship with the little ball-headed whiney child. From the day he entered our lives, I wanted him out. But, my girls loved him. Correction, they were obsessed with him. They loved him so much, we got the doll, the tree house, and a few puzzles. We watched Caillou every night before bed. Every. Single. Night.

You’re probably asking yourself why I didn’t shut it down from the beginning. As a parent, you know you pick your battles. Watching the show made them happy. Playing with the toys made them happy too. They really weren’t hurting anyone or anything, except for my sanity. So, I let it run its course. It is a course that has now ended.

I can’t remember the last time we actually sat down to watch a Caillou episode. They have no interest. They’ve moved on to Nickelodeon shows like “Henry Danger” and “The Thundermans”. I can honestly say I enjoy “The Thundermans”. I can take “Henry Danger” in small doses. It’s a little unbelievable that no one can in Henry’s family can figure out that he’s also Kid Danger. But, that’s another topic for another blog.

Getting back to Caillou…my girls have actually muttered the words “I don’t want to watch Caillou. I don’t like him anymore.” It is sweet music to momma’s ears!

As parents it can make us sad when kids grow out of certain phases. But, not this one. I no longer have to hear that whiney voice when no one wants to play with Caillou at “play school”. First of all, it’s pre-school or daycare. No one calls it “play school”. Second of all, I wouldn’t want to play with him either if I were a four-year-old kid. I no longer have to answer my girls when they ask me why Caillou never grows hair. I don’t know! Truthfully, does anyone? I no longer have to worry about Caillou’s parents never changing their outfits or Caillou crying when he has to give his favorite shirt to his sister Rosie.

The reign of this little monster is over!  Peace out Caillou! Take your olive muddle and bad dance moves with you. If your child is still infatuated with this little monster, I’m sorry. I’m sure your day is coming too. Until then, just remember, He’s just a boy who’s four. Each day he grows some more (although it doesn’t look like it). He likes to explore. His name is Caillou.

Meeting my Nemesis: Caillou

As a parent, we do things for our kids that we normally wouldn’t do for any other human being.

For me, that means taking my kids to meet Caillou.

If you know anything about me, you know I have a love/hate relationship with the little bald-headed poopy head. Truth be told, it’s mostly a hate relationship on my end. I’m sure if Caillou ever sat down for a coffee with me, he would love me.

Although I can’t stand the little whiney kid, my girls tend to love him. Watching him before bed is a ritual. So, when I heard there was going to be a free meet and greet at my local mall, I put aside my feelings and decided to take them. I’m still waiting for my Mother of the Year Award.

caillou meet2

The boy, the myth, the legend!

I expected there to be other kids, but I guess I underestimated Caillou’s popularity. There were tons of kids! The line wrapped around the lower level of the mall. When my kids saw the line they were a little discouraged. When I told them we didn’t necessarily have to wait for a personal meet and greet, they weren’t buying it. We were committed to this line and to the meet and greet. It didn’t matter how long we had to wait.

caillou meet1

OMG! It’s Caillou!

 

Of course, things would have gone a lot faster if Caillou didn’t need to take a nap after only thirty minutes at work. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. He does always complain and whine over every paper cut. Standing to meet fans was perhaps a little tiring for him. On the inside I was telling him to just suck it up.

So we waited. And waited. During what felt like eternity, I realized my phone/camera only had 20% battery left. OMG! If my battery ran out before we got to the main event I’m sure my Mother of the Year Award would have been taken away. What an epic fail!

Thankfully, a few crying and traumatized kids who freaked when they actually got to the front of the line made the whole thing move along much faster.

As we inched closer, I could feel the excitement build. We were in the presence of toddler greatness. To say my kids were excited would be an understatement. Let me tell you, it was the equivalent of me meeting Adam Levine.

caillou meet3

Dreams do come true! LOL!

 

When Caillou’s handler (yes he had a handler) motioned for us to come on down, my girls ran right up and gave him a hug. It actually warmed my Caillou hating heart even though it took nearly an hour and a half for a ten second picture and a high five. A woman offered to take a picture of me with him too. No way. I need to draw the line somewhere.

So I left the mall with two girls Caillou crazed kids who couldn’t wait to tell everyone who they met. Deep (deep) down it made me feel good that I did something to make my kids happy, even if it did involve Caillou.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Power=No Caillou

   Obviously when you lose the power, you lose your lights, television and all the other great things we have learned to be very cranky without. But, try explaining that to a three-year-old. Yeah, not so easy, and really not so much fun. Like millions of people along the East coast, we lost our power during Hurricane Sandy. It was one of those things we knew was going to happen, it was just a matter of time. Luckily, I was able to cook dinner so we didn’t have to resort to peanut butter or brownies for food, because that would have just been so horrible. Anyway, we were sitting at the table when the lights flickered a couple of times. What a tease. Let’s just get this over with Sandy. Anyway, within minutes, we were sitting in the dark. My youngest daughter could care less, but my oldest first stated the obvious, “It’s dark.” That’s my girl. Then we told her that the storm knocked out the power and turned the lights off. She preceded to tell us she didn’t like the storm and that it was bad. I had to laugh at that one.

   So, I lit a few candles and we had our flashlights as we moved to the couch. My little one was waddling around in the dark like it was no one’s business. Meanwhile, my oldest asked if she could watch “Caillou”. That’s her favorite cartoon show. For those of you who have never made the bald little annoying Canadian…”He’s just a boy who’s four and each day he grows some more…Caillou, Caillou,Caillou…that’s me.” Yeah, the theme song is the equivalent to “Call Me Maybe” to a tween. Anyhow, I told her that having no power meant no television, which meant no Caillou. So, she said “later Mommy.” Yeah, still not getting it. My husband and I knew we would be in the dark well past the morning. Not to get her hopes it, I told her I doubted it because it would take awhile for the power to come back on.

   Ladies and gentlemen, we have lift off.
   “I have no power.”
   “No honey, no power.”
   “I don’t have Caillou.”
   “No honey, no power, no Caillou.”
    She then remembered an episode where little Caillou lost his power in a storm. Then, she asked me, “just like Caillou?”
   Yep, I answered, just like him. From that point on, she seemed to have grasped the concept of not having power. Who knew Caillou would come in handy!