Thanks Mrs. Pterodactyl! October 21, 2014 12:05 PM Subscribe
Octopus the answer to 7-year-old's fidgeting thanks to the nimble fingers of Mrs. Pterodactyl!!
My 7 year old son fidgets like a madman - right now his favorite fidget is to twists his shirt around his finger. This drives me bananas. Recently – probably on the green – I read about fidget toys, which sounded like a possible answer to shirt-twisting. If only I could find something small, flexible, appropriate….And then, in the Secret Quonsar post, I clicked on the pictures of Mrs. Pterodactyl's crocheted octopuses. Small. Flexible. Appropriate for a kid who loves sea creatures and stuffed animals – check check check!
So I emailed Mrs. Pterodactyl, hoping she would sell me an octopus. She said she wouldn't sell me any, but she would be happy to send one. About a week later my kid got mail addressed to him, which he loves, with not one but three tiny cephalopods - in his favorite colors! – along with a thoughtful note explaining to him their purpose. If I remember correctly she said sometimes people's brains can think more clearly when their hands are busy, and he totally got it.
Here he is, displaying his new pals: with Reddy, Bluey, and Yellowy
Mrs. P, you totally could have taken my offer for cash. Or you could have just said no. Your kindness will not soon be forgotten in our house.
My 7 year old son fidgets like a madman - right now his favorite fidget is to twists his shirt around his finger. This drives me bananas. Recently – probably on the green – I read about fidget toys, which sounded like a possible answer to shirt-twisting. If only I could find something small, flexible, appropriate….And then, in the Secret Quonsar post, I clicked on the pictures of Mrs. Pterodactyl's crocheted octopuses. Small. Flexible. Appropriate for a kid who loves sea creatures and stuffed animals – check check check!
So I emailed Mrs. Pterodactyl, hoping she would sell me an octopus. She said she wouldn't sell me any, but she would be happy to send one. About a week later my kid got mail addressed to him, which he loves, with not one but three tiny cephalopods - in his favorite colors! – along with a thoughtful note explaining to him their purpose. If I remember correctly she said sometimes people's brains can think more clearly when their hands are busy, and he totally got it.
Here he is, displaying his new pals: with Reddy, Bluey, and Yellowy
Mrs. P, you totally could have taken my offer for cash. Or you could have just said no. Your kindness will not soon be forgotten in our house.
adorable! and thoughtful!
posted by darsh at 12:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by darsh at 12:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
<3
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 12:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 12:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is pretty great!
There's a billion Metatalk threads talking about what's wrong with this place. It's true that people can sometimes be terrible when they leave comments here. I find, though, that every single interaction I've had with a MeFite that wasn't inside a thread, be it real life, MeMail, email, postcards, Secret Quansar, Twitter, Facebook, or any other way, has been awesome.
posted by bondcliff at 12:35 PM on October 21, 2014 [23 favorites]
There's a billion Metatalk threads talking about what's wrong with this place. It's true that people can sometimes be terrible when they leave comments here. I find, though, that every single interaction I've had with a MeFite that wasn't inside a thread, be it real life, MeMail, email, postcards, Secret Quansar, Twitter, Facebook, or any other way, has been awesome.
posted by bondcliff at 12:35 PM on October 21, 2014 [23 favorites]
Aw, yay! Thank you so much for posting this! I'm really glad you're both happy!
To be honest, for some mental health reasons, this time of year can be really, really tough for me and I don't always feel so good about myself especially in October and November so knowing that I could make you and your son happy really meant a great deal to me. He is totally adorable and I am so glad that these little octopus friends have found a good home!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 12:40 PM on October 21, 2014 [167 favorites]
To be honest, for some mental health reasons, this time of year can be really, really tough for me and I don't always feel so good about myself especially in October and November so knowing that I could make you and your son happy really meant a great deal to me. He is totally adorable and I am so glad that these little octopus friends have found a good home!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 12:40 PM on October 21, 2014 [167 favorites]
That is so great. Yay for you, Mrs P, and thanks for posting this, lyssabee.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:50 PM on October 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:50 PM on October 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
A straight-up mitzvah!
posted by griphus at 12:53 PM on October 21, 2014 [20 favorites]
posted by griphus at 12:53 PM on October 21, 2014 [20 favorites]
OK this is probably the time to say that there are now four of them hanging around my floor of my workplace - mine is purple and currently has a little party hat - and it brings me and my colleagues so much joy.
posted by capricorn at 1:17 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by capricorn at 1:17 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
once again we see there is no problem that cannot be ameliorated by the generous application of cephalopods
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:17 PM on October 21, 2014 [57 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:17 PM on October 21, 2014 [57 favorites]
Mrs. Pterodactyl is one of MetaFilter's great treasures.
posted by kate blank at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [51 favorites]
posted by kate blank at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [51 favorites]
Vote #1 Mrs Pterodactyl and her army of tiny multicoloured Cthulhu-beasts! May they eat YOUR children first!
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [84 favorites]
posted by the quidnunc kid at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [84 favorites]
There are a few in my home as well! Mrs P is tremendously talented and DC is lucky to have her. I've caught my cat carrying them around in his mouth a couple of times (no photos, because typical cat only does these things when he thinks you aren't looking. here is a short video of him playing with one).
posted by troika at 1:19 PM on October 21, 2014 [10 favorites]
posted by troika at 1:19 PM on October 21, 2014 [10 favorites]
It's this sort of thing that explains why Kirk always falls for Ensign Flying Reptile.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:20 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:20 PM on October 21, 2014
Well, and the fact that he can't fly.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:26 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:26 PM on October 21, 2014
the quidnunc kid: Vote #1 Mrs Pterodactyl and her army of tiny multicoloured Cthulhu-beasts! May they eat YOUR children first!
Wait, what? The quidnunc kid promoting someone else for #1? Is this a case of buy-out, or is it the mix of flight and testicles that has promoted Mrs. Pterodactyl to #1?
posted by filthy light thief at 1:38 PM on October 21, 2014 [8 favorites]
Wait, what? The quidnunc kid promoting someone else for #1? Is this a case of buy-out, or is it the mix of flight and testicles that has promoted Mrs. Pterodactyl to #1?
posted by filthy light thief at 1:38 PM on October 21, 2014 [8 favorites]
yay!! Aw is right.
posted by sweetkid at 1:42 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 1:42 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Aww, those things pried apart the molluscy shell and devoured the salty flesh meat of my heart*
*I don't actually know what octopi eat.
posted by Think_Long at 1:57 PM on October 21, 2014 [4 favorites]
*I don't actually know what octopi eat.
posted by Think_Long at 1:57 PM on October 21, 2014 [4 favorites]
Wait, what? The quidnunc kid promoting someone else for #1?
Just trying to split the octopus vote - I wasn't polling well among voters with more than 7 arms.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:05 PM on October 21, 2014 [32 favorites]
Just trying to split the octopus vote - I wasn't polling well among voters with more than 7 arms.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:05 PM on October 21, 2014 [32 favorites]
This has made my afternoon a lot brighter.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:10 PM on October 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:10 PM on October 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
Mrs P is the best!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:19 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:19 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is a fantastic thing that has happened!!
posted by Room 641-A at 3:03 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 3:03 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Mrs. Pterodactyl, you're a good egg. I like you.
posted by palomar at 3:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by palomar at 3:18 PM on October 21, 2014 [5 favorites]
Yay! What a sweet and thoughtful thing to do. Your son is adorable, lyssabee!
(the knitted critters are also cute.)
posted by misha at 3:27 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
(the knitted critters are also cute.)
posted by misha at 3:27 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Mrs. Pterodactyl is good and she should feel good.
(Seriously, I'm pretty sure she's literally magical. Go to a DC meetup, you'll see!)
posted by divined by radio at 3:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
(Seriously, I'm pretty sure she's literally magical. Go to a DC meetup, you'll see!)
posted by divined by radio at 3:30 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Gorgeous. Made my morning :)
posted by prettypretty at 4:01 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by prettypretty at 4:01 PM on October 21, 2014
This is wonderful all around.
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:01 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:01 PM on October 21, 2014
This made my shitty day a lot better.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 5:10 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 5:10 PM on October 21, 2014
Mrs. Pterodactyl is one of MetaFilter's great treasures.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:33 PM on October 21, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by Me in My brain at Allthetime PM on October Thureversdayposted by Potomac Avenue at 5:33 PM on October 21, 2014 [12 favorites]
There are a few MeFites that I really hope to meet in person someday. Near about the top of that list you will find Mrs. Pterodactyl.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:51 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 5:51 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
I was a lot like this kid at age 7. He'll grow up to be like me.
'sup, bro...
posted by jonmc at 5:56 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
'sup, bro...
posted by jonmc at 5:56 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Mrs. Pterodactyl's octopi were also Facebook famous today. They got dressed up with little moustaches for a friend's wedding gift and she posted a picture of them as her cover photo. It was super cute and I was very happy she enjoyed them.
posted by EvaDestruction at 6:15 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by EvaDestruction at 6:15 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is the way you 'Aw' - it has to have multiple 'w's at the end, like so:
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That's so cute!*
* optional
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:12 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That's so cute!*
* optional
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:12 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is just the nicest thing.
posted by dismas at 7:15 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by dismas at 7:15 PM on October 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Mefites are the best people. <3
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:55 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:55 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
\o/ Mrs. P!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:04 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophie1 at 8:04 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Hooray!
posted by ocherdraco at 9:28 PM on October 21, 2014
posted by ocherdraco at 9:28 PM on October 21, 2014
That's adorable.
posted by homunculus at 4:25 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by homunculus at 4:25 PM on October 22, 2014
I want Mrs P to teach me how to make these. Sure, other people could teach me. But hers are magical. :)
posted by IndigoRain at 7:08 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by IndigoRain at 7:08 PM on October 22, 2014
Awwww! So adorable! What a nice thing for Mrs. P to do!
posted by SisterHavana at 7:50 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by SisterHavana at 7:50 PM on October 22, 2014
It's an early Quonsmas miracle. Mrs P is awesome.
posted by arcticseal at 9:11 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by arcticseal at 9:11 PM on October 22, 2014
I'm a bad husband, if it's taken me this long to post my very special Mrs. Pterodactyl octopus (the very first one she made), but here's Esmeralda who lives in my office. Here's another of her playfully perched on the head of the monster Mrs. Pterodactyl painted for me at one of those pottery painting places.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:21 AM on October 23, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:21 AM on October 23, 2014 [6 favorites]
Mrs. Pterodactyl is a lovely person who sent me some really encouraging messages when I was totally freaking out about getting some work handed in. She's the kind of person who makes this place a community and not just a load of strangers arguing on the Internet.
This is a lovely thread, thanks for posting lyssabee. And your son is adorable!
posted by billiebee at 2:23 PM on October 23, 2014
This is a lovely thread, thanks for posting lyssabee. And your son is adorable!
posted by billiebee at 2:23 PM on October 23, 2014
Mrs. Pterodactyl is good and she should feel good.
(Seriously, I'm pretty sure she's literally magical. Go to a DC meetup, you'll see!)
I did this a couple of weeks, and you are correct! I am certain that baseball could not have been explained to me without her assistance (and a large amount of booze).
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:12 PM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
(Seriously, I'm pretty sure she's literally magical. Go to a DC meetup, you'll see!)
I did this a couple of weeks, and you are correct! I am certain that baseball could not have been explained to me without her assistance (and a large amount of booze).
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:12 PM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
*fiddles with buttons on shirt*
*fiddles some more*
*fidgets*
*twitches*
*looks around to see if ANYONE noticed fidgeting yet*
posted by infini at 1:05 PM on October 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
*fiddles some more*
*fidgets*
*twitches*
*looks around to see if ANYONE noticed fidgeting yet*
posted by infini at 1:05 PM on October 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
This is where I get to say I've known Mrs. P for AGES and we have closed down the bar together and we are always seeing each other on the metro and she offered to dog walk for me but I never got a dog.
Basically, I was into Mrs. P before she was cool.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:58 PM on October 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Basically, I was into Mrs. P before she was cool.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:58 PM on October 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Everything about this is wonderful! Yays all around!
posted by danabanana at 12:03 PM on October 27, 2014
posted by danabanana at 12:03 PM on October 27, 2014
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posted by cortex (staff) at 12:07 PM on October 21, 2014 [12 favorites]