The Toybox
My son called ‘MUM!’ from the toy basket this afternoon. He could see what he wanted through the mesh sides, but couldn’t extract it through the holes in the fabric. I laid the basket on its side so as he could crawl in and pick up the desired toy.
Ten minutes later (an eternity in the world of an 9 month old baby) he is still picking up each toy one by one, shaking it, biting it and throwing it in a pile beside him. Initially he wanted a book, or so he thought. Faced with the many options of his whole toy collection he isn’t so sure. Each time he appraises a toy he is refining his choice.
Don’t want anything hard.
Has to rattle.
Should be easy to hold.
Light enough to carry around.
In the end he settled for a plush lion with rattles for paws and a handle.
He had no judgment about the process of finding the perfect toy. Didn’t feel guilty for discarding bulky, hard toys. Took pleasure in trying each toy out one by one. Not at all disappointed when this too wasn’t the perfect toy.
I wonder when I lost my ability to refine my desires and choices so effortlessly. When did I become invested in choosing perfectly the first time? How much happier would I be, would you be, if you gave yourself permission, time and space to try it all out, discover what you really want and then make the perfect choice. For now at least.
The lion is already discarded. He discovered his shoelaces.
2 comments
I remembered this blog as I watched with envy as my 10mth old did this tonight… and thought, can I be so brave to do the same?
I learn from my little buddha-baby every day too I am sure they were sent to remind us. Thanks for sharing.