Why we like our stuff old and crappy....

Recently they built a new library by our house.  I took Max for a visit and we chose some BRAND NEW board books to take home for the week.  Among these borrowed books was a much beloved book with flaps.  Max especially liked the flap that revealed a kitty underneath.  The problem with flap books is that, although they love them, small children tend to rip off the flaps in their enthusiasm.  Usually this is not a problem with library books as they have already been so loved by all the other children that no one will notice your child's contribution.  Not so with BRAND NEW library books.  And so Gus and I were attempting to be very militant about making sure that Max did not rip the flaps. 

One of the many parenting lessons I've learned is that attempting to be militant at protecting stuff from children never works.  Eventually you will get distracted, and toddlers are very adept at picking those moments to attack whatever precious thing you have been desperately trying to protect.  The board book proved no exception. 

While in the middle of a distracting task, Gus hears Max's monologue from the adjacent room:

"Kitty!  Flap no rip....no rip flap...no...no... RIP IT!"

While our vigilance skills are definitely lacking, we are getting pretty good with the tape. Somebodies kid had to be the first to love the library book, right?

"Kiss it?"

Like most parents, Greta and I have taken to kissing whichever part of Max's body has been hurt in a tumble.  Like most kids, these kisses ease Max's pain like a tonic.  (Besides which, it's adorable and it's a great excuse to give him kisses.)  Nowadays, whenever Max hurts himself he runs crying to the nearest parent asking, "Kiss it?  Kiss it?"

Today he tripped over the vacuum cleaner and hurt his bum.  (Can you see where this is going?)  I picked up our crying child and said, "Aw.  Did you hurt your bum?"  Max looked up wearily at me with those big blue eyes full of big crocodile tears, barely containing his sobs, and asked if I would "kiss it?"