Jan 24 2010
Where’s the line?
Since she first learned how to crawl, Annada has had a fascination with the street. One of the little girls in our neighborhood told me Annada wants to be in the street because “that’s how you get places. She doesn’t want to be trapped.”
Probably true. So, like the childproof cabinets in the kitchen, Annada is bumping up against disappointment. Honesty, most of the time she tries to do what we ask. Sometimes she is puzzled by the boundaries, sometimes she forgets. But recently she has been testing them :).
I try to work on one new rule a week at a time. We’ve been on, “you must stay on this side of the line” (that separates the driveway from street) for a couple of weeks straight.
It’s pretty funny. Earlier this week we were walking back to our house. Annada was doing really well staying out the street. Until some other friends stopped their car to talk to me. We were talking for about two minutes when I saw Annada stop, turn toward me and stare for a moment. Then her right foot started inching toward the street. It was so deliberate even my friends noticed.
I reminded Annada to stay on this side of the line and she stood absolutely still for a few seconds. I went back to my conversation, watching out of the corner of my eye. Pretty soon that foot started scooting again. Then she started walking sideways (a new skill!) toward the street. We stopped talking and just watched as she picked up speed. (Their car was blocking any possible traffic.) When she reached the street, she turned and broke out in a gallop down the street while laughing with joy.
She was so happy it was hard to ruin her fun. But I ran after, scooped her up and brought her back on the grass. She just sat there, bottom lip out, looking wistfully at the road.
(Here she is testing the line. She puts a foot over and looks at me.)
Annada climbing the slide by holding my hand. Her collection of bamboo leaves is at the bottom of the slide.