The music box

Once in a while I visit the charity shops on our high road to see what hidden treasures are lurking in them at dirt cheap prices. Thrifty I know! I could not believe my eyes while we were in one today and T found a toy music box underneath a pile of cuddly toys I had been looking at. He had wanted one for ages having played with a similar toy at a playgroup we go until the battery in that died and was never replaced. At 99p, this music box is a bargain that should keep him entertained for quite a while.

His first proper video game

T is breathing a well deserved new life into the Nintendo DS I received for Christmas in 2009. A present I treasured and played frequently at first, once the allure wore out, it didn't take long for me to loose interest and toss it somewhere in the house because I am not the handheld console gaming sort of of individual. Luckily I didn't go and sell it off on Ebay or something like that because these days it has become a play and learning tool for the young man. I just brought him his first cartridge, a Sesame Street: Cookies Counting carnival bundle and he is loving the games that include number identification, counting, shapes and pattern recognition at the moment. 

Goodbye gate in the hallway

First his bed railings came off, suddenly it is the turn of the gates in the hallway because T can now climb up and down stairs confidently. The gate in the kitchen doorway remains firmly in place of course. Hot electrical appliances and sharp items aside, there is also the treats cupboard to worry about :)

Elmo shape and spin

Who better to teach him about shapes? His one and only favorite cuddly monster, Elmo! Now let the learning commence.

The power of words

Words of wisdom from one of my favourite models of all time, Iman. She said and I quote: "I have a 12-year old daughter and when she does something wrong, she says, 'I was very bad'. I say, 'no you did something bad. You are not bad'. The action is different from the person who is doing it".
I had to marinade on her comment for a brief moment and then it occurred to me. Words are like invisible projectiles and when we spew them, it is wise to choose carefully in case they cause harm. This visual by Emeli Sande sums up my point exactly. Beware the power of the words you utter!