The Little Things

Tonight, after dinner and before that magical moment known as bedtime, we played games with the boys. Our motive for doing this is always multifaceted. First, Elijah and Dylan love it. They shriek and squeal and laugh as they run around the room. Second, watching them loving it is just plain hilarious. Alexander and I probably smile more during these moments than during the whole rest of our grown-up week. Thirdly, it tuckers them out. And let’s face it – tuckered out is a good thing. Especially when it coincides with that magical moment known as bedtime.

Tonight’s game might have been titled “blind man’s bluff” or “the blind leading the equally blind.” It commenced something like this: Dylan placed a dish towel over his head (covering his eyes) and proceeded to rush at top speed across the room. If he heard a voice, he would immediately stop, turn and rush toward the voice. This was fine if it was Alexander or I that he was rushing toward. It was a little more problematic when it was Lij. Up on his ancient Greek literature, Lij was attempting – siren-like - to lead Dylan into peril. He would get perch on the couch and call to Dylan. Dylan would rush top-speed toward the voice and bonk into the side of the couch, falling backward. Fortunately, Dylan found this hilarious and only bumped into one wall before he learned to run with his arms out in front of him. Soon, Lij abandoned his life as a siren, deciding instead to veil his face like little brother and run wildly around the living room. Good times were had by all.

And all for the price of two dish towels. (The stash of much-loved-at-times and sometimes expensive relative-sent toys in the corner remained untouched). It truly is the little things that bring the most joy, no?