Simon Says #3

It seems there is a tension in parenting. On one hand you want to help your kids build their identity, discover their strengths and passions. On the other hand you don't want to box them in and cut off their imagination toward who they could be. At any rate, Simon and Levi spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's the other night...I asked Simon how it went and he replied: "It was fun!...buuuut Levi was pushin' it."

Levi is 3 and tends to get into things. After a recent episode (drawing on the carpet that is still somewhat visible) I had a long talk with him about thinking before acting. He wanted to make sure that I thought he was smart...which sort of broke my heart...but I assured him he was very smart, which he certainly is, but that the more he used his thinker, the smarter he would get...just like how when he uses his muscles they get stronger!

So I was surprised just the day after the big talk that I caught him in the act drawing a "strawberry" (he claims) on the living room floor!

After he apologized and scrubbed it up, I intentionally decided against mentioning the whole "Think First" thing, but he brought it up.

"But Da-ad, I thought about it first...but then (shrugging shoulders)...just colored the strawberry!"

 I suppose you have to appreciate a little guy who thinks outside the box. Keep the creativity coming Levi!