lessons from a key

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

I always try to lock the door to our office when I leave. Saydee is like a walking tornado, and I like to keep at least one room of the house somewhat clean. For my sanity. The other night I went to reach for the door key on top of the frame above the office, and it fell behind a gap in the framing. Gone. I had a minor panic attack, thinking I would never get into the office again. Perhaps it was a little dramatic. Nevertheless I ran to Eric, who after a bit of searching, found our last key. I'm sure these could be purchased on Amazon for approximately .52 cents each, but that would require waiting two days (shout out to Amazon Prime) for them to arrive.

Since I like to keep the office clean and somewhat organized, it's the clear choice for Saydee's "favorite place to play and make a mess" area in the house. She sits on my chair and types on the keyboard, grabs whatever pens are in reach, and takes anything and everything out of their appropriate containers.


The other night I was sitting on the floor putting together some things for her upcoming birthday party, while she played in the chair. Knix was sleeping so it was the perfect opportunity for me to get a little done. As she was playing at my desk, she looked over to me and asked, "Mom, I have it?" I looked up and saw her holding the key. Part of me wanted to run over, dive through the air and snatch the key out of her hand as if it were a Pendant of Life from Legends of the Hidden Temple. I didn't. "Sure, go ahead!"

I heard her clinking it against the plastic chair, and on the desk. She drummed it against a water bottle, and laughed and waved it in the air as she danced on the chair.

She looked up. "I love it, Mom!"

She meant it with every fiber of her being. She loved that key. That key had provided her a good 4 minutes of pure joy and fun. Who was I to even think about depriving her of that? Could she have lost the key? Easily. Would the world have been over? Nope. Would she have missed out on the epic drumming and dance session? Undoubtedly. 

As she continues to grow older and explore the world, I don't ever want to be responsible for holding her back. The world will try and get her to follow suit. Not me. Society will tell her what she should and shouldn't be, or what she should or shouldn't do. I won't. I will urge her to delve into this world and do whatever it is that brings her joy and happiness. That little key is just the beginning of the epic drumming and dance session that is her life. Take that key Say, and run with it.

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