Since my big kids were little I have told them stories.  I am not a profound story teller, for a long time I didn't think my stories mattered a whole lot - then I wrote "Before the Journey"   and I began telling some of the stories from when my big guys were little, writing them down, etc. and I realized how much they meant to my family. 

Sam is different... he loves stories of gnomes but he also has this odd love of super heroes.  Erik and I often joke that Sam followed him around before he incarnated, reading comic books over his shoulder!  Sam seems to be born with a knowledge of Stan Lee's world - the way only Stan can! I have been telling watered down tales of Spiderman and Captain America since he was old enough to ask for them - but I really wanted tales that were SAM... just him... something unique.  So being who I am, I put it to prayer and meditation.  It wasn't long before Super Sam appeared, complete with his side kick Lola the turtle.  I started telling Sam stories of this little gnome who lived in a tree stump shaped like a mushroom. Super Sam painted it so that all the animals in the forest would easily be able to find him when they needed to.  Sam's best friend is a box turtle, she lives with him.  Sam is not an old gnome or a young gnome.  He's not got a full beard, just starting to grow one.  He has a bright orange cape and hat, sewn by his own hands, brown pants and striped orange wool socks, knitted by him as well.  Sam is very resourceful - whether it be helping animals through quarrels, rescuing a baby bird gone astray... he always finds a way to help.

This first issue of Super Sam introduces some of the forest animals. 

One quiet early autumn afternoon, Sam was knitting a new pair of orange socks - preparing for the coming winter as one can't ever have enough socks - a knock came to his door.  Sam sprang to his feet to open the door.  Silver Squirrel was on the other side.  Silver Squirrel was so worried, he said that he heard the cry of Snow Drop all over the forest and none of the animals could find him.

Snow Drop was special.  He was a white moose.  His mother and father were both brown, but Snow Drop was white - he was very easy to spot in the warm months so for him to be hidden seemed odd to Super Sam. He and Lola knew they had a job to do.  Sam grabbed his pack and off he went.  He listened to the sounds of the forest.  He could hear the moans of Snow Drop all over the forest but couldn't find him.  This moose was very big, how could he be so hidden?  Sam asked all the squirrels, then the hedgehogs, the little ducks, the big fat geese at the pond... he asked the badgers, the bunnies... none of the animals had seen Snow Drop.  Lola asked the frogs and the other turtles and the tiny bugs.  All the animals heard the moans but could not find Snow Drop. Sam reached into his pack and pulled out his very special quartz crystal, he sat down on the forest floor and he and Lola got very quiet.  They began to pray.  They thanked God for the beautiful day, for their friends, for all their blessings, then they asked God for help finding Snow Drop.  They sat.  And sat. After a few moments of silence, once more they heard the called of Snow Drop - only this time Sam knew just where to go. At the edge of the forest there were large rocks, boulders that opened into a cleared meadow. Maybe Snow Drop had gone there to eat some of the grass.  Snow Drop was not supposed to go there because it was out of the forest but sometimes young moose don't do what they are told. Sure enough, Sam found him - right where he was directed to.  Snow Drop lay with his head between the two rocks that went to the forest, his body in the grass of the meadow and his hoof in the air.  He was making a loud moaning sound.  Sam slowly walked up to the large animal (remember Sam isn't much larger than a medium pumpkin) - Sam looked Snow Drop in the face:

"Snow Drop! Why are you being so loud?" he asked.

"I came to eat the sweet grass at the edge of the forest but I didn't see the patch of thorns and I got one stuck in my hoof, now I can't move." Snow Drop explained.

"Hold still, let me see what I can do."  Sam said as he opened his pack and pulled out his small set of pliers. He looked at the poor animal's hoof, sure enough there was a large thorn stuck in the soft part of his hoof.  With one tug Sam pulled it out.  Immediately Snow Drop was better, he stood up and thanked Super Sam.  He offered Sam a ride home and Sam accepted but reminded him that he would have to tell his parents where he was.  Snow Drop agreed, he also agreed never to leave the cover of the forest again without permission.

Now our tale is done... good night little one.

I won't promise a new story each week, but I will put them down as we come up with new ones.  Enjoy.

Comments

[aelfie]

That was too cute!!!

[Lauri]

What a delightful story, and a terrific way to channel Sam's delight with superheroes into a more age-appropriate place! What a good Mama you are!!

[Melisa Nielsen]

Thanks Lauri!  I think it is so easy to get caught up in the adult - social justice sort of super hero that we experience today when these little ones are so impressionable.... the real super hero is one that doesnt go looking for a fight or even see a fight... a real hero is one that helps others heal, connect, find good qualities in him/herself.  Plus he just loves a good story.  Blessings.

[Tracie]

This is such a sweet story! I am going to share it with my 4yo if that is okay. I love how Super Sam asks for guidance. Thanks for sharing this.

[Melisa Nielsen]

I hope you will use the stories!  I was so sleepy last night, I laid down and Sam told me that he would tell me a story... guess which one he told me?  LOL There is so much to retelling the same story over again - they really love it.  We are brewing something new. Blessings!

[Serena]

Thanks Melisa for sharing this! I am fairly new to Waldorf and am trying to incoporate more storytelling into our rhythm (vs. always "reading" non fiction books about construction equipment...). I appreciate this example and will use it to stir some stories for my Sam too. Take care!