Saturday, October 20, 2007

Rediscovering childhood

Have you ever noticed how long it takes toddlers to accomplish tasks? Ten minutes after you tell them to go get their shoes, you’ll find them sitting on the floor of their nursery playing with a toy they haven’t touched in months. Ask them to pick up the Legos strewn about the living room and you’d think there was a toy store to put away. You can almost get dinner ready for the rest of the family in the time it takes them to eat a cup of yogurt. So why would going for a walk be any quicker?

Now that the weather has cooled off, Ladybug and I try to get outside as much as possible. Our routine includes a walk to the mailbox at the end of the street. Normally this shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes round trip. But with Ladybug, it’s an hour-long outing.

Every blade of grass, rock, pebble and pine tree needle has to be examined. Ladybug has to stop and wag her finger at the soda cans and cigarette butts on the side of the road. “No, no, no. Dirty,” she’ll say. And if there’s a neighbor outside, we have to take a minute to “talk.”

I really don’t mind. It’s fun to watch her explore the world and be fascinated by simple things like acorns. For that hour, it almost feels like I’m a kid again.

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