Feb 22 2012
Visiting the Fire Station
I took Annada to visit the fire station. One of the moms in our play group set it up. I was impressed! In Orlando the rescue truck is basically a mobile ER. It was reassuring to know that there is that much help close by. Did you know that a firefighting suit alone weighs 75 pounds? And with all the equipment it is 150 pounds!
When they showed us the medical truck, the paramedic talked to the kids about how they want to help them if they get hurt. Annada was clinging to me the whole time, but whispered in my ear, “I want to show them my ant bites so they can fix me.”
When I got Annada up to go to the firehouse, she insisted I let her wear her blue ballet dress. I did not understand why it was so important, but it wasn’t immoral (I have to remind myself to ask that question – instead of is it embarrassing?), so I let her.
When we got there she was shy but sure of one thing – the firemen would like her dress. I did still didn’t catch on until she began to talking to one – months ago at a fair she had worn the same dress. One of the firefighters at the fair told her he liked her dress. And Annada remembered! “I wore my blue dress for you,” she told the men and woman working at the station.
To end one of the firemen put on all his gear and crawled around on the floor. They encouraged each kid to run up and give him a high five. They told us children sometime hide from them (they do look scary!). When we got home Annada and I made up a game. Annada would hide in a room. Then I would come crawling in saying, “I am a firefighter looking for children to help.”
Annada would crawl to me (to stay below the pretend smoke) and then I would carry her out of the room and use her doctor kit to heal her. Then we would trade and she would become the firefighter.