An update from Grammy Buzz who is entertaining the Bears for the summer!
The Bears have enjoyed a glorious summer filled with intrigue and adventure as well as some quiet times just hanging out with Grammy and Granddad. Thank you all for your kind inquiries into their activities and whereabouts. They are happy, free spirits in so many ways, but as the summer progressed, I realized each had a fear that was holding him back. So this week, with gentle prodding, I encouraged the Bears to face their fears.
Beaker is afraid of snakes. We had a friendly garden snake in the yard two weeks ago. Beaker bolted inside. I couldn’t get him out of the house for three days. I explained that we never take chances with poisonous snakes, but that other snakes are our friends. We began by inviting just one snake over to play.
Then several.
Then the whole gang. Before long, Beaker understood that these snakes were gentle, friendly souls. He has now made such fast friends with the whole crew that he has invited them to Charlottesville this fall. Fun!
Churton loved camp, but his camp report card revealed that he refused to participate in the camp play. It seems that Churton has a fear of public speaking. I arranged for him to participate in the summer youth service at church.
I suggested he pretend the congregation was only wearing their underwear. He thought that was so funny, that he agreed to give it a try. He donned a shepherd costume and did a lovely job reading Psalm 23.
His brothers listened with great enthusiasm from the front pew.
After the service our little shepherd posed with the pastor, Dr. Bob Brizendine.
When we got home, Churton said, “Grammy, I think I might like to be a minister or an actor or maybe even the President. I’m not afraid of public speaking anymore.” Yes!
Bocker is terrified of the moon. For a long time, I couldn’t figure out why. Every night, we have to close the curtains in his room. If he is forced to be outdoors after dark, he is constantly checking to make sure the moon is still in the sky. Finally, the truth! It turns out that a middle school bear told him that once a summer, the moon picks a small bear to snatch.
We’ve all worked hard to help Bocker befriend the moon.
I bought him one of the lovely Moon Bear books that features a bear who looks a lot like him.
His granddad gave him a camping kit. Gramps thought a sleep out would help, but Bocker darted inside as soon as the sun set.
We’ve sung about the moon.
Painted the moon.
Dressed up as the moon.
Baked a giant moon cookie.
Nothing has helped. Every night, while his brothers are chasing fireflies, Bocker waits for them inside.
So I’m calling on Kath’s clever readers. I’m desperate. Any suggestions? How can we help this sad, terrified young bear enjoy the world outside at night?
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the bear posts! too bad about the moon fears! I did some research…. and this site about Selenophobia ( ear of the moon) popped up. Hope it helps
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1190394/selenophobia_or_fear_of_the_moon.html
Perhaps you could play Moon Dance by Van Morrison and dance with Bocker under the stars? Maybe while eating Moon pies? Hopefully that’s not too much sugar for the bears.
This is fabulous. I second this idea!
I suggest adding the story Goodnight Moon to your bedtime stories and then play a game of “jumping over the moon” like the cow does. Looks like you could use your dress up moon props to jump over for this game! Alternatively, you could introduce Neil Armstrong and astronauts and talking a rocket ship to the moon to explore it, etc. What a fun adventure for the bears!
Aw, what a cute post! Could he write a letter to the man in the moon and tell him what a good little bear he’s been and that his brother bear told him this tale and he wants to know it it’s true or not?
And if he knew the moon was actually made of cheese it probably wouldn’t seem all that scary ;o)
I love that the bear got a picture with the pastor! Too funny : )
Love this. The bears’ Grammy is awesome.
Hahaha adorable! I love your attention to detail, Grammy Buzz. My favorite is the frosting on Beaker’s nose!
Such a CUTE post
Made me smile this morning!
So cute, love the pics. The moon cookie pic is adorable!
Oh my gosh- the picture of the bears frosting the cookie is too cute!
i, too, suggest reading “good night, moon!”
this is adorable. i’d love to show this post to my nieces. it’s like reading a blog version of a hammy hamster tale (a children’s tv show from my youth which featured a hamster, his friends, and their adventures).
I suggest NEVER GOING OUT AT NIGHT. This is clearly the only reasonable answer.
so adorable!
a couple ideas for Bocker:
1) watch Wallace and Gromit’s trip to the moon to get cheese in “A Grand Day Out” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3uch-1Ouag
2) Stargaze!! let Bocker use a telescope to see the moon close up from the safety of the indoors through a window…
Yikes, be careful! Isn’t that a poisonous king snake sitting on the top of the others?! Red and yellow kill a fellow…
Kingsnakes are the harmless ones. You’re thinking of the coral snake. But yes, red on black is a friend of Jack.
Poor bears!
Ah, I meant coral snake! Thanks for clearing that up.
I hope the bears cleaned their faces really well after that giant moon cookie!
Too cute! Maybe add another book into the reading list? Goodnight Moon was one of my favourites as a kid! Or, play a little Michael Buble “Fly me to the moon” – the bears might not get it but I’ll listen to Michael any day!
Cutest. post. ever!!! I like TC’s idea of Van Morrison & Moon Pies. Might do that myself
Hmmmm….since the bears do love to laugh….perhaps teaching Bocker the other meaning of “moon” as in “mooning someone”. Perhaps if he sees the moon as someone’s ahem…bum….with their pants down….he will react in laughter instead of fear. Of course this could also lead him to fear all bums, butts, asses, which could lead to an even more isolated existence….much like a prolonged hibernation…….
Hahah I love those bears!
You got me at ‘dressed as the moon’. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
That was my favorite part too! I definitely cackled at work … whoops!
Too cute, and I love everyone’s ideas!! So creative!
Oh Bocker you poor baby! Maybe get some glow in the dark paint and do some art projects outside? Once it gets dark out he will see how nice the nighttime can be!
take a trip to the moon!
A camp fire is the best way to enjoy the night outside! Love these bears.
grammy buzz – that’s a lot of snakes!!
Kath’s mom is going to be such a good Grammy when/if Kath and Matt have “real” bears!
haha the moon cake was hilarious!
Poor Bocker.
Have you tried some star gazing? Maybe you could try it on a night when there is a new moon, and try it a few more times until the moon is full.
Good luck – it seems like you really take care of those bears!
What a great grammy the bears have for teaching them to overcome their fears! I don’t know I’d feel about the bears bringing back those snakes, though.
Awww, what a cute post, Kath!
So excited to see you later on today! Have a safe trip out here. Kiss the Bears goodbye for me for a few days
YES!!!! Another bear post. I love these posts and look forward to them so much!
Tell him you’ve got a monster stun gun!
Well that was just the most adorable thing I’ve read in a while. This would make a wonderful children’s book, with an ending of course. I know your mother writes. Has she considered Adventures with the Bears books? This post left me wanting more. I would read them to my niece and nephew. Alas, my babies are too big now.
My older daughter suggests telling him that the moon is made of cheese. Wallace and Gromit traveled to the moon and ate the cheese with biscuits when they landed there. Does Bocker like cheese?
Very cute post!
Some of those snakes look so real! They would scare me if they were laying in the grass!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
You guys and the bears crack me up! Yay for the Pastor posing with them! Thats awesome!!!
I love your mom for doing this! I actually laughed out loud when the pic of the bears with the moon hats came up. It’s amazing what our mothers will do for their daughters!
hahah! these look soo adorable! Like they’re actually real~oh wait, they are right?
It’s funny that the pastor posed with the bear 
Ahahahahaha – I’m CRYING literally over this post. This was incredible. Good job bears!! Glad you’re having fun
I know you know this but I’m going to say it anyway. What a gift to have parents like yours who are so interested in your life and are so supportive. Your mother is a fabulous writer and I love it that you share her with the rest of us. Those bears have a great life. LOVE getting to read about their adventures.
Hmmm I would have thought that by the time they were dressing up as the moon and eating it, Bocker would have conquered his fear. But I suppose many fears are very deeply ingrained. I would definitely recommend watching A Grand Day Out and Moonstruck, perhaps while sipping on moonshine??
OMG Moon Bear was my favorite. That brown bear had me wanting to go to the moon when I was younger. I think you just inspired me to find that book for my Nook
these are the best posts!! too funny!! my favorite one ever is the “bears are mad at windows 7″ hysterical!
I cannot beLIEVE how adorable all this is. I loved the “alternate meaning of ‘moon’” suggestion. He’s not wearing pants anyway!
Cute! I’m going to play grandma now (pretend I’m eighty, not eighteen) and say: ‘Aw, you’d be such a great mother, Kath! And you and Matt would have such cute babies! When are they coming, eh?’
Jokes aside, what fun
LOL! Fantastic!
a bear post! LOVE them!
maybe he can sleep inside, but next to a window w/the moon visible. baby steps ;p
Adorable and hilarious!!! Grandma Younger is a riot, to have her Pastor engaged in this was awesome. I laughed out loud with the picture of the moon hats and the frosting in Beaker’s nose, as well as the picture of all the gang with the bunch of snakes. Love the bears, thanks Mrs. Younger!!
You should write a book about the bears! You could add in recipes and have a bear cook book! The best part about this post was when Churton donned a shepherd’s outfit and read Psalm 23…sooo funny! I had to hide my laughter at work.
Grammy Buzz: Can I come stay with you? It looks like summer at your house is way more fun than summer at mine.
Forgive the tangent, but this post reminded me of a childhood book that I loved and have since forgotten. The cover was pink and white checkered and it was filled with photos of a misbehaving doll and a baby bear, and a stern grandpa bear.
She even gets into make-up and gets a spanking
I have no idea what the book was though. Any ideas?
(Cutest post ever btw.)
OMG……. was it “The Lonely Doll?”.. haunted me as a kid!!! It’s sort of a cult classic… but I like the Grammy Buzz stories SO much better! Love the telescope idea…exploration from the safety of home…baby steps Grammy!
From amazon:
Once there was a little doll. Her name was Edith. She lived in a nice house and had everything she needed except someone to play with. She was lonely! Then one morning Edith looked into the garden and there stood two bears!
http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Doll-Dare-Wright/dp/0395899265
It must have been “The Lonely Doll,” I was obsessed with that too!!
Check out this site. They say the author was a real character:
http://www.darewright.com/
I LOVE THE BEAR POSTS!!! Can these please be turned into a childrens’ book series??
I think having him “moon” the moon the moon will help. Or just have him sit under it and feel what he feels and help him identify what is going on in his body and his mind when he’s outside. He might realize that it’s just his tummy feeling funny, or his arms feeling weird and perhaps his mind telling him that Something Bad will happen, but that’s all it is. Not anything really.
Also, will you be helping Kath face her fear of bugs? Or is that a lost cause and you are hoping the bears are still able to overcome their fears? ; )
I have to say I love these posts. They make me all sad and nostalgic or something.
Put him in a little tent with a “moon roof” and unzip the rain cover. He can look at the moon while snuggled in a sleeping bag! Throw in s’mores and he will be sold.
This is so cute! I love the bears. Perhaps he should go “visit” the moon or learn about astronomy
Wonderful…as ever! I always look forward to the next adventure!
Hahaha. LOVED this!
They’re scared of snakes? Why, your bears must be Indiana Jones!
make smores by moonlight
Very cute. I’m still trying to get Levi to enjoy the night INSIDE. Although, he does prefer crickets over waves and rain on his sound machine.
Thank you all for your excellent suggestions on how to help Bocker overcome his fear of the moon. I will try out each idea, one at a time, in hopes of finding a solution. I was also pleased to learn, Lauren, that this is s true disorder and will keep that in mind going forward. Thank you all again! Please keep any additional ideas coming.
I (along with my purple dinosaur and NC wolf… don’t judge) LOVED this post
So sweet!
i love the bear posts, your mom is great bear grandmother!
Love the bear posts! I hope the bears are having a good vacation. I bet they miss their mom & dad.
I have a thought, does Bocker like going to the beach? Maybe you could explain that the moon has a really hard and special job. It makes the sea go in and out, leaving all that lovely sand for Bocker to dig in and rock pools to explore. Without the moon none of that would happen. Perhaps, then a little white lie? That the only time Bocker could thank the moon is when it is resting at night. He is soft hearted bear, after all, and I’m sure he wouldn’t want the moon to be sad.
I will try it!
Love the Bear Posts! They always make me smile.
Maybe try taking Bocker to an observatory so he could get used to the night sky and the moon in a place safe from bear snatchers, then maybe he would feel more comfortable with the real moon.
What an adorable post! Just what I needed this morning.
Loved this post! How cool of the pastor pose with Churton! Your mother does have a knack for writing and it runs in the family too!
Maybe Bocker, Beaker and Churton can come explore the night sky at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at UNC Chapel Hill — it’s only a few miles from “Camp Grammy” in Hillsborough. They can see a fulldome planetarium show, examine memorabilia from when NASA astronauts trained at Morehead, and participate in experiments as part of the “Science LIVE!” show. Bocker will conquer his fear of the Moon, and everyone will have fun — Grammy and Grandad, too!
Exellent idea!
I AM SO DESPERATE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE BOOK THAT THE BEAR WAS READING!!! THAT WAS MY FAVORITE BOOK WHEN I WAS LITTLE AND I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME! IM HAVING A LITTLE GIRL AND I WANT TO FIND THAT BOOK BEFORE SHE GETS HERE… PLEASE HELP ME!!! IT WOULD MEAN THE ABSOLUTE WORLD TO ME!!!
Hi Kristie,
That’s one of the Moon Bear books. I”m not near my books right now, but I’m pretty sure it’s Happy Birthday Moon. The original was Moon Bear, but I’m not seeing it listed. But here’s Happy Birthday Moon and some of the others:
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Birthday-Moon-Moonbear-Frank/dp/0689835442/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
Buy them all! They’re wonderful, wonderful books and your daughter will love them.
Barbara