There is a three-legged dog in my neighborhood. The dog’s owner explained the story behind the missing leg. The dog ran into the street in the path of an oncoming car and lost its leg in the accident. My daughter has been fascinated by the three-legged dog and fascinated by the story. She wants me to recount over and over how the dog lost its leg. And then she re-enacts scenes of the accident with her dolls and action figures.
When she first expressed interest in this, I welcomed the story as a useful way to learn why one should not run out into the street, why it is important to stop and look both way before crossing, etc., etc. But lately, with the 30th re-telling of the story, and her persistent re-enactment of the accident complete with smushed leg and rushing to the animal hospital, I’m wondering if my daughter isn’t just a tad too orientated towards the dramatic and lurid….
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