Play

The baby is old enough to be into everything.
He sees us throw trash away.
He finds toys and puts them in the same bin.
Not actually helpful, but good practice.

He would rather take out CDs than toys cars,
Prefers to open the drawer with the china
Than the box with the Duplos,
Happily opens the wardrobe to extract piles
Of diapers and folded clothes.
He’s less good at putting them back.

After a dozen or so redirections,
Phil asked the brothers to please play with the little guy.
Two were busy with schoolwork,
And one was not interested,
But I soon heard baby giggles, such a happy sound,
As one brother chased him about the house.

It’s a good reminder for me:
Maybe the china drawer is actually a simple, wordless statement:

Play with me.