11-28-12 Let's Play!

Sometimes I look at Caden and rack my brain trying to remember what you're supposed to do with a
2-1/2 year old.  I shouldn't be rusty.  The last time I had a 2-1/2 year old was, um, one year ago.

I did see this trend starting a year ago though.  Max was 2-1/2 and he really only wanted to do what Conrad was doing.  When Conrad was 2-1/2, I was his buddy.  When it was play time, I played with him.  It's different with your third child, especially when they're close in age.  With Caden, I'm not his first choice for somebody to play with.  He is always looking for Max and Conrad and beckoning for them to play trains.  I'm more of a last resort when they're no longer interested in setting up tracks for 2" trains to be pushed around.  They've moved on to bigger and better things -- big boy LEGOS (no more Duplos!).

Tonight the big boys left with Daddy and Caden started crying and saying that he wanted to go with them.  The thought, "What do I do with a 2-1/2 year old," started to creep into my head.  Then I asked him, "Do you want to play in the sink?"  A moment of genius!  Conrad and Max used to LOVE to play in the sink.  Caden does too.  There he was playing away with simple things.  Then I added a funnel.  Double genius!  He said, "Look at my fountain," and I remembered Max saying the exact same thing and I can remember the bowls and items he stacked to create his fountain.

What a fun night.  Sometimes it really is the little things.