This Way

The other night Mackenzie woke up around 1:30 a.m. for a diaper change. I changed her and snuggled her and offered her crackers and water, but she wasn’t interested.

Instead, she reached for a cardboard jewelry box I’ve been letting her play with. She leaned back in my arms, closed her eyes, and turned the little box over and over in her hands, taking the lid off and repositioning the box and lid until they fit again. Eyes still closed, she smiled just a little and ever so briefly when the two pieces fit together, and then she started the game over again.

Mackenzie played with that box, half dozing, for at least fifteen minutes before she finally fell asleep. It reminded me so much of the way I turn thoughts over in my mind, the way I problem solve, and the way I approach so many things.

My first thought was, “My baby is a GENIUS. Can somebody say Rubicks cube?!”

My second thought was, “Oh, my word, my toddler has insomnia.”

But that’s kind of how creativity and problem solving work, right? It’s a tight line between abundant, fulfilling, creative work, and obsessive, stressful, insomniatic madness.

I should know.

Anyway… Over the weekend we took Mackenzie to the park and let her walk around every chance we got. I think she’s just about got this walking thing figured out.