Motivations For Child Avatars Do Not Need To Be Creepy.

I am sort of depressed about my SL lately, I admit.  I find there is always so much to do, and yet there is nothing to do that really inspires me.  Maybe I am having one of those bored-of-Korinna phases, but actually, not really.  I feel sort of limited by Korinna.  I have (what I think) is a cool back story idea, but I would need the help of one of my children (the ones of TOS age.) and they're just not into it.

Lately,  and perhaps oddly, I have been more into playing my Character's daughter, who is only 11 months old.  I am sure plenty of people think I am a freak for that,  but I think I have a very valid (and sane) motivation behind it.

It's really not that I want to be eleven months old again, but there is a certain giddy remembrance of my children when they were that age. Sometimes, we are *inside* of our avatars, but sometimes, we are watching from Camera view, and when it comes to a smaller avatar, the default camera settings always look down,  giving me the feeling as if I am looking down upon a child.

My kids are far from infants now, one is 20 in two days. One is nearly 18, another is a short 13 months younger than he. And my baby is a 13 year old young women. Don't get me wrong I adore my children now that they are older,  we have stimulating conversations, and can share in adult humour.  I love that about us.

But those years when a child is young and innocent truly do not stand the test of time, and memories are precious.  Even though I can not have any more children,  I am one of those crazy ladies who is always a little baby hungry.

So, when I am playing twig,  I find inspiration for her emotes and actions in what I remember my children doing. She is an avatar and a character, and yet she is based on all of my children. When I am playing that avatar, I am having fun, and remembering.  My strange overbearing mothering instinct is fed. I love to dress her up in pseudo classical clothing. and make her toys, and decorate her little room.

My only problem is,  no one is around to baby sit me. And the mother in me who believes in supervised children can not fathom an 11 month old running around without someone to keep an eye on her.  Even if I don't really need it.  Even in the safest place for kids in the world.

I realize now, it was the same when I had my Centaur kid when it started out.  When he was young. I had him at my other favourite age.  I should have kept him there, but at least there I have some closure as I came up for a suitable storyline to write everyone out neatly, and without disrespect to anyone involved. The one benefit of having the older child, though, is I would have had a baby sitter. hehe.  Now I have to find creative excuses when my baby is not around...
When I was SL pregnant,  I didn't do it out of a yearning to be pregnant again.  I did it, really, to prove a point.  That it lasts longer than six days, or six weeks, that pregnant bellies do not talk, that no one puts your pregnancy at risk for standing in your whispering range. That your body tells people when your baby is kicking,  something you can do with your own mouth.  *and* that you could do it for free without loads of scripts that lag everyone else into 2006

Honestly, the limitations and costs of prim babies was a pain in the ass.  This is why I got a Tiny toddler avatar for her instead. Far cheaper, and customizable. When my computer feels like double logging, a mommy follower is all I need, and a gesture that allows me to chat (emote) for her if need be.

But, I digress. I am thinking maybe a smarter-than-the-average- goat and herding sheepdog might make decent baby sitters, in the land of make-beleive.

On this edition of "Pimp My Goat."

Sorry for the two posts in one day, but I forgot that I intended to show the before and after pictures of Maebell.

The goat in the foreground is the original, as it came out of the box, with the plastic-y texture, and restrictive looking reigns, and the full bright puke green saddle.

This next picture is a close up of Maebell's face.

Doesn't the other goat in the background look pissed off and jealous? I am still quite pleased with how something as simple as a tile-able fur texture for pillows can look more realistic. She's so soft and huggable. She has plums, plum blossoms and leaves on her wreath. She also has an adorable bell meant for cows. Light blue seems to be her colour.

I took of the reigns, because a familiar doesn't need to be tied. I lengthened her horns (since she is a supernatural goat, she's old, but spry!) and the animation kind of lines up as if I am loosely holding her horn in between my fingers for the purpose of gently steering.

I am gradually making copies of my skirts, and having those copies attach to my stomach. Since Maebell attaches to my pelvis. That way I can ride her without being lewd.

My next project(s) for her, is to take the static version I made (No scripts, and much lower prim) and put a milking animation in her udder, and a hug animation around her neck. I think I have a passable kneeling hug animation, but the tricky part is the milking animation. Sure, there are a lot of Gorean chore milking animations out there, but a goat is much smaller. I need a kneeling milk, rather than a sitting milk. I'd love to animate her head to graze, but that seems pretty ambitious. Its nice that she is copy/mod though. Because I can always add features later.

When our sim upgrades, I am going to buy enough prims to keep her out all the time. The static-lower-prim Maebell, anyway.

Also need one of those scripted things, that allows you to type in text, using a different name or something. Hmm. So I can emote for her.