Wooden blocks are a staple of almost every child's toy box. They provide hours of imaginative time building architectural wonders and other designs --- sometimes more for parents than children in the first years of child's life.
I have experienced this first hand.
When we get the blocks out, I sprawl on the floor next to my toddler son and proceed to construct an array of small houses, skyscrapers, and bridges. Sometimes my son adds blocks to the precarious assortment, toppling the whole thing over. "Oh well," I say, "Let's rebuild."
Other times, he pushes the new buildings down like a baby Godzilla devastating everything in his path, sending the wooden world crashing down. When this happens, I say firmly, "No! Play nice with the blocks". I remind him about not throwing and crashing with the hard wood blocks and I model gentle play.
Most of all, I try not to get too upset even though something deep within me feels a small pang of despair. I worked so hard and now my efforts have been destroyed. Perhaps this is a small reminder of other failed plans in my life or other events where I thought someone's actions made my life unhappy.
Something in me rallies. I am in charge of my reaction to this event. Amid the rubble are the remains of a beautiful construction. "Oh well," I say, "Let's build something new."
I don't want my beautiful constructions or plans destroyed, but such is the way of toddlers and other people in our lives. They show us the non-permanence of our physical worlds. Occasionally they show us that we are taking ourselves too seriously.
More importantly, they show us the choices we have with our emotional, physical, and spiritual reactions to events.
I have experienced this first hand.
When we get the blocks out, I sprawl on the floor next to my toddler son and proceed to construct an array of small houses, skyscrapers, and bridges. Sometimes my son adds blocks to the precarious assortment, toppling the whole thing over. "Oh well," I say, "Let's rebuild."
Other times, he pushes the new buildings down like a baby Godzilla devastating everything in his path, sending the wooden world crashing down. When this happens, I say firmly, "No! Play nice with the blocks". I remind him about not throwing and crashing with the hard wood blocks and I model gentle play.
Most of all, I try not to get too upset even though something deep within me feels a small pang of despair. I worked so hard and now my efforts have been destroyed. Perhaps this is a small reminder of other failed plans in my life or other events where I thought someone's actions made my life unhappy.
Something in me rallies. I am in charge of my reaction to this event. Amid the rubble are the remains of a beautiful construction. "Oh well," I say, "Let's build something new."
I don't want my beautiful constructions or plans destroyed, but such is the way of toddlers and other people in our lives. They show us the non-permanence of our physical worlds. Occasionally they show us that we are taking ourselves too seriously.
More importantly, they show us the choices we have with our emotional, physical, and spiritual reactions to events.
Comments
We really enjoyed your stub toe blog too. Keep spreading your wonderful, kind, and inspiring energy, the universe is greatful for your spirit, as are we. 8)