06 July, 2011

Toddler Memory (or Ramps and Rainbows)

Rainbow #1
Once...just *once* (and this must have been at least six months ago), when Thomas and I went on one of our highly-prized "Daddy Walk(s)!" (a very popular weekend occupation thanks to the close proximity of a) SWINGS! b) COWS! c) TRAINS! and d) AIIIPANES!/HEWICOPTERS!) instead of doing our usual walk into the woods (I forget why) we decided to head towards the hospital (just to start with) where we found a big ramp in the footpath and zoomed down it - Thomas laughing hysterically ("That was a ramp Thomas, did you enjoy that?" and next on our "long-way-round" route we then happened upon some paving where (presumably) a child had spent some time carefully drawing a rainbow with lots of colours of chalk...I stopped the pushchair and pointed it out to Thomas, telling him what it was (which he repeated "Oooh...Wainbow!") and then off we sped to find the cows, dogs, cats (etc.) without a backward glance...

Last weekend we had to get some money out (ready for the aforementioned hair cuts) which was a great excuse for a Daddy Walk, and the nearest free cash point happened to be in that sort of direction, so (Thomas strapped into his push chair and equipped with plenty of dried mango and "Agua por favor!") we followed a similar route...not only did Thomas get *very* excited when we approached the location of the ramp (saying "RAMP! RAMP! WHEEEEE!!!!") *astonishingly* when we passed the (obviously now completely plain) paving slab where the chalk rainbow had been all those long months ago (where we had spent all of about 6 *seconds*)...he pointed down and said "WAINBOW!!!", I frowned for a minute, observing the total lack of clouds/rain and then suddenly the memory returned to me (OMG! Are you *serious*?) "WOW! Yes Thomas! VERY clever boy! There was a rainbow drawn here, a chalk rainbow"...and spent the rest of the walk home in a slight daze...absolutely staggering...

So, one *very* important lesson (from one impressed, but slightly shaken parent to another) - Watch *very* carefully what you say around your little one (it's *ALL* going in)...

More information over here...

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