Puzzles

With each day, as a parent, you have a terrific opportunity to learn so much from the subtle actions of your child. I was consistently amazed when—if I am patient and peaceful enough to let myself witness it—the transformation and development of a child serves as deep insight into our own lives. Most recently, I have discovered this to be true when watching Kaia do once of his favorite activities: puzzles.

Sometime last spring, in March or April, Kaia started in on his first puzzle challenge, a large 30 piece floor puzzle of nursery rhymes. For some months he had been doing the types of board puzzles that captures toddlers’ attention, but for some reason he decided that he was ready to tackle the interlocking kind. It was quite remarkable to see how quickly he learned to place all of the pieces and so cute to see his pride emerge upon placing the final piece. Ever since mastering this one, he has this hunger for new puzzles and can sit for well over an hour putting them all together.

After realizing that he is very much able to dump a puzzle (or 2 or 5!) out and do the entire thing himself, I have taken to sitting with him and just watching his mind work. I can’t tell you how many times he has picked up a piece that I thought was the wrong one, only for it to be correct. It is kind of an odd feeling when you’re being outsmarted by a 2 year old. Anyway, the patience that he also exhibits, scanning the available pieces and considering the options, turning each piece multiple times, is something that I’ve learned a lot from. There is this certain confidence that he has, knowing that the puzzle will eventually come together, and that at some point the challenge become easier as the pieces, literally ‘fall into place’. But, in the beginning, it is a matter of trying to put together combinations, and not losing faith and falling into frustration. As time goes on, the path to completion becomes more clear and, when that final piece is placed and the full picture comes clear, there is time for a clap and a smile, and it is on to the next one. For me this persistence is such a life lesson -the challenge to forge ahead when the answers may not be so clear. This is but one thing I’ve learned at the foot of the little puzzle prince.

Why I Love this Time: a, b, c, d, e, f, g…n, o, q, p, l, m, n, o, z…p, r, s, v, 2, v, w, x, y and z.