I hope to be the kind of parent who will support my child in whatever profession he chooses. I find myself day dreaming about what Cole might be. An architect (maybe he’ll build my dream house). A photographer (maybe his photos will be in National Geographic). A film maker (maybe he’ll shine at Cannes and Sundance). Garbage man (maybe he’ll...wait, what?). Yes, tis true, folks. It looks like Cole is headed for a life as a Waste Removal Specialist. His current favorite thing to do in our house is take the two small garbage cans that are in my studio (yes, I have two), put one inside the other, and push them around the house. When he tires of merely pushing them around, he attempts to reach in the cans and extract whatever catches his eye. A colorful piece of paper, a bit of string, a used tissue. GROSS! That’s when I typically intervene and take the cans away, placing them high up out of his reach. He cries and stomps away, no doubt thinking I am an evil woman (has he been watching The Family Guy?). He does not yet see that playing with the garbage is indeed gross. To him, it’s something different and interesting. I certainly don’t want to stifle his curiosity, but I do have to put my foot down at some point. I find that distraction is an extremely underrated parenting tool. I employ it all the time. And, so to make amends with my disgruntled toddler, I pick him up, playfully throw him in the air and tickle him under his armpits. That usually gets his mind off the garbage and sends him giggling and buckling over with laughter. I know that one day he may be a garbage man, or an architect or a film maker, but for now I am relishing the fact that he is a lovely and perfect little toddler. What more could I ask?
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