“Look mummy,” says Tadpole. “I did draw a picture!”
I study the picture dutifully. “Is it a witch?” I say. “Like Meg from Meg and Mog?”
Tadpole shakes her head. “No. It is mummy when she is very fâchée. With cross arms like this.” She demonstrates by putting her hands on her hips.
I try not to show how horrified I am to see myself in this new and disturbing light.
Next week: mummy with a terminal hangover. Which is worse than this.
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Well Tadpole will just have to remain very good, then, so that mummy does not become cross. I’ll trust you to get this message across.
Comment by Lost in France — May 21, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Who is the other character you are cross with? Surely it can’t be Tadpole – wouldn’t she draw herself much smaller in relation to you?
(w00 first post)
kali.
Comment by Kali — May 21, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
I think it’s supposed to be Tadpole, yes. Despite the small problem with perspective/height…
Comment by petite — May 21, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Ah, they notice everything don’t they? We should all have kids to keep us in check or let us know the truth about ourselves. cute.
Comment by dawn — May 21, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
I think it’s rather splendid. I love the hair and the hands on hips. You’ll have to watch the downturned mouth though, a few years of that and wrinkles would surely follow.
Of course, even wrinkles are better than a Dog’s Bottom Mouth, so turn your lips down rather than purse them.
Comment by Z — May 21, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
And does your hair flounce out like she’s drawn it, when you’re angry?
Comment by Moses — May 21, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
but of course
Comment by petite — May 21, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Childrens drawings are wonderful. Tadpole’s explanation reminds me of our friend’s daughter who was being warned not to climb on the coffee table. While in mid-climb she leaned towards us and in a stage whisper said…
“Daddy gets very angry”.
She is 2.
Comment by Jonathan — May 21, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
The other person looks like Meg!
Comment by frog with a blog — May 21, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
C’est très drôle, c’est vraiment une sacrée petite coquine Tadpole ;-)
Comment by Fressine — May 21, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
ah yes, I see what you mean. same razor-sharp shoulders…
Comment by petite — May 21, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
My 5-year-old daughter made a similar drawing for me some months ago…. It is of the two of us, she is showing me a marker, and I have a word bubble coming from my mouth with “No” written as nearly as large as my drawn head. Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the very distinct frown drawn on my vaguely-Picasso-esque face… Uggghhh
Comment by Melissa — May 21, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Don’t be so negative, your hair looks terrific.
Comment by Marie — May 21, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Ouch! That’s harsh. Tadpole’s expression looks a bit too innocent… As though you couldn’t possibly have anything to be angry about… LOL.
Comment by Melissa — May 21, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Frog is either offering a “relooking” or looking for a fight. I hope it’s the latter ;)
Come to think of it, I did have a perm that looked very much like that in 1985… which is probably the last time that my hips retained that shape.
Comment by Le Meg — May 21, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Looks like that’s a man who’s making you so cross…
Comment by HuckleCat — May 21, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Perspective….
One day, some day soon I am afraid, you blink. And then she is taller than you are.
… I love starting a sentence with ‘And’, my revenge against Miss Beckwith.
*Shudder*
Comment by meredic — May 21, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
It’s scary have children perceive their parents!
Comment by Jean-Luc Picard — May 21, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
Singer, artist…I think you have a bit of a entertaining genius on your hands:)
Have to say – wish I could draw people with such life!
Sx
Comment by Soph — May 21, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Sometimes I really want to be a small child again so that I can notice things… actually that would make a really good blog post! Thanks Tadpole!
Tom
Comment by Tom The Twit — May 21, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
I’m sure Tadpole will become a great artist! A suivre…
Comment by reinette — May 21, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Discussion between 8 yr old son and 5yr old little brother of his friend.”My mum looks a bit like dracula,don’t you think (jokingly)”Ah non,plutot un Loup-Garou(werewolf)He was deadly serious.This could be the downside of having children after 40 or an especially bad hair day but I still can’t fathom out why a 3year old girl told me I had the eyes of a Pieuve(either octopus or squid ?)last week.Thank goodness she didn’t draw me,any lingering illusions I have about myself are rapidly having to be reasessed.!
Comment by Carol — May 21, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
why does tadpole have flames / trotters instead of feet? that’s almost more disturbing…sort of almost…kind of.
Comment by inspiredbycoffee — May 21, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
“I want fish and chips!”
Comment by andre — May 22, 2007 @ 12:11 am
“Next week: mummy with a terminal hangover”
Hehe love it!
Your writing is fantastic by the way. I discovered your blog a few months ago through blogzira, and have been catching up through the archives. I really appreciate your style, and it also brings back fond memories of studying at the Sorbonne 4 years ago. Your posts often make me *homesick* for Paris. ( I am actually from Scotland!) Keep up your excellent writing. And if that’s mummy when she’s cross, I’m not sure I’d like to see her with a terminal hangover ; )
Comment by Julie — May 22, 2007 @ 2:42 am
That’s priceless!
Comment by ~Tim — May 22, 2007 @ 5:47 am
Is there no end to her talents? What a fantastic, dynamic picture of crossness… head tilted, hair flying, hands on hips, scowl… look no further for the illustrator of your first children’s book.
Comment by kitikat — May 22, 2007 @ 7:55 am
If Tadpole is almost the same height as you – in the picture – then why is she on tiptoeing?
Comment by Ariel — May 22, 2007 @ 8:24 am
Oh dear god, Andre. Is that my “I want fish and chips” face too? Tell me it’s not true?
ps my mum just emailed to ask if I want fish and chips when I land in the UK tomorrow? Is there a link?
Comment by petite — May 22, 2007 @ 9:06 am
I think that is more your “Why aren’t I at Club Revenge?” face.
Comment by Katy Newton — May 22, 2007 @ 9:13 am
Ha! I just looked at the club revenge website and I think I can safely say it would not have been my cup of tea…
Comment by petite — May 22, 2007 @ 9:31 am
when did you last see a dentist?
Comment by Eliza — May 22, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Could the other figure in the picture be Mr Frog standing well back?
Have a good fish and chips. I had it last night, but the fish was most disappointing.
Comment by Damian — May 22, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Perhaps Tadpole has is no problem with perspective! It’s possible you are smaller than her (in her mind’s eye). Do you often jump up and down when angry?
Or, if that’s not Tadpole in front of you but Meg; you’re not a wearing a dress, it’s a parachute so you can smuggle copious amounts illicit alcohol into one of the many Parisian haunts you “Problematic Pair” frequent!
What an astute daughter, seems Tadpole might not be playing on the CBBies’ site but reading your blog instead. Shocking thought, I can wait for the next crop of sketches.
Comment by Sodom&Gomorrah — May 22, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
LOL – Tadpole is TOO funny!
Comment by teeweewonders — May 22, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Your mother is a big fan of my work!
Comment by andre — May 22, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
What I say is: if we weren’t ready for queer carnage just after Eurovision, we never will be.
Comment by Katy Newton — May 22, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
I LOVED Meg and Mog! I’m so glad kids still watch that, haha. Tadpole’s adorable.. Is the other person in the drawing her?
Comment by Arcadia — May 22, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
What a brilliant drawing by Tadpole, savour the moments, sadly they grow up :-(
Comment by Kap — May 22, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Tadpole has talent. Look at the mouths on those characters, they clearly express the proper sentiments!
Comment by epikuryooz — May 23, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
HaHa. I found a picture my son had drawn of me where he is attacking me with a sword. Should I be worried?
Comment by Lucie — May 23, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
FACES OF METH? Oh my that is scary. I’ve thrown away all my meth this morning after looking at that…
Comment by magillicuddy — May 24, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Oh, those are your ARMS!
I thought…
Uh, never mind.
Comment by Bill — May 26, 2007 @ 1:01 am
So cute :)
Comment by thebrideofthemonster — May 27, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Gosh I cant believe it took until #42 for someone to make a comment about the FACE OF METH! That was some seriously creepy stuff! But point made and taken.
I guess it’s also better than the way your children see you when they are teenagers…
Comment by Sarrouche — June 27, 2007 @ 3:17 am