One of the first things you teach your child as they develop is colors. Which circle is red? Which bird is blue? Which block is orange? And you go along thinking that things are working out really well. So by the time your child is five you’re thinking that you’re on the path, full steam ahead, no looking back…….then again maybe not.
One night we were getting ready for bed and I wanted to take the bath rugs downstairs to wash them. I LOVE the feel of clean, fluffed rugs under my feet!! I asked Allan if he could go into the bathroom and get the two blue rugs and put them at the top of the stairs. He says ok and in he goes. He comes out a minute later and says he can’t find them. Really? Are you sure you looked for them? Can you check again? Off he goes for a second time. He comes out another minute later and says he really can’t find them. Surprisingly I’m extremely calm because by this time I could have had the rugs downstairs and in the wash. No, no…I wanted to see where this was going to go.
I decide to go into the bathroom with him and “search out” the two blue rugs. I stand at the front of the bathroom, in front of the vanity. Allan stands at the back of the bathroom, in front of the potty. I tell him again, “Mommy is looking for two….blue….rugs. Do you see two….blue….rugs?” His eyes start to wander, first the ceiling, then the wall, then the other wall, inside the bathtub and behind the potty. While he’s searching diligently to find these two blue rugs I step into our bedroom where James is waiting and say, “This might take awhile.” I step back into the bathroom where Allan tells me again that he cannot find the two blue rugs. I tell him again (very calmly….no really, I was) that I am looking for two….blue….rugs.
I ask him if there is anything in the bathroom that’s blue. He points out the blue can of Febreze. I admit that it is in fact blue. So I ask him if there are two of them. No, he says. So I tell him that can’t be it and besides, the can isn’t a rug. “What else do you see that’s blue?” He points to the can of Vanish. I admit again that it is in fact blue and ask again if there are two of them. No, he says. I decide to change emphasis.
I tell him again that I’m looking for two….blue….rugs. I talk to him for a few seconds about being a rug and if I were a rug, or a carpet, where would I be. He looks in the bathtub and points out the bath mat. I tell him he’s on the right track, but is that one blue? No, he says. At that point he’s feeling the angst of defeat. He keeps his head hung as if he succumbs to the idea of never finding the two blue rugs. Also, at that point his glance comes out of the tub and lo and behold what does he see? The blue rug he’s standing on!! Feeling a great sense of triumph he looks up at me and points to the blue rug with a huge smile on his face. Eureka!!! I tell him yes, it’s a blue rug and I ask him if he sees another. His eyes roam for a few seconds and then they fall on the blue rug I’m standing on. Again, the triumph sweeps over him and he points to the one I’m standing on. I could almost hear the chorus of angels as he picks up the two blue rugs and puts them at the top of the stairs.
With such a great end to the evening it was time to go to bed. Allan in his bed dreaming of the grand adventures to be had with the two blue rugs. James and I in our bed giggling and knowing what a memorable moment has just been created.
