Lucy and Edmund are playing quietly with their farm animals in a sandy clearing, right next to the campervan. Jarrad is in the shower, and I’m supervising Peter and Susan with their school work. All of a sudden, Lucy runs to Edmund and throws him by the arm towards the campervan. I rush to the door to tell her off for treating the baby like that. Then I realise that she has put herself between Edmund and a snake.
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I supervised Peter and Susan doing their writing. It really doesn’t take much, just help them spell a few words, correct a bit of grammar, and lots and lots of, “Focus!” “Concentrate!” “Peter! Cursive!” “Ohhhh, would you focus!” Talking about focusing, I was staring out the kitchen window to where six-year-old Lucy and two-year-old Edmund were playing with their plastic farm animals in the beach sand just a meter or two from the campervan.
All of a sudden, Lucy grabbed Edmund’s arm and half-flung, half-threw the toddler at the campervan door. She jumped up onto Jarrad’s outdoor chair and her little body froze. “Snake!” she cried.
I threw open the door, where Edmund was trying to climb frantically onto the step, sensing Lucy’s fear. I grabbed his arm and got him into the campervan in much the same way Lucy had removed him from the snake’s path.
I dragged the frozen Lucy inside, noting the not-quite two-meter long snake in the exact place where Edmund had been standing only seconds before. Its head was raised. It was looking straight at Edmund.
Lucy curled up on the couch. She didn’t talk. She didn’t move. For over an hour.
We are so proud of our little six year old. Being so frightened, and yet getting her little brother out of the way before she froze in panic.
Editted to add:
I found this image on the internet of the snake. Anyone know what sort it is?
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How scary! It may be a Western Brown Snake? http://www.venomsupplies.com/brown-snakes/
Twitter: livinontheroad
says:
Lucy was very brave and incredibly quick thinking for a 6 year old – well done Lucy! Hope you are all over the trauma of it now.
Woah! That is scary. I’m glad that you all all OK.
Twitter: livinontheroad
says:
Yeah, a bit shaken, but definately just a getting more than a bit paraoid about snakes now!
Oh that is so amazing yet so scary, my eyes welled up with all the emotions that you must have gone through in those few fast, yet no doubt long, seconds! What a story to tell!
Twitter: livinontheroad
says:
It must have been less than a minute…but it was a really really long minute.
Lucy was very brave and incredibly quick thinking for a 6 year old – well done Lucy! Hope you are all over the trauma of it now.
Twitter: livinontheroad
says:
Over the trauma now, but just on high-alert for snakes! She’s not usually a brave kid, actually, she’s more of a big sook, which makes it so much more impressive (proud mum).