Knots

  Today Aria was playing with the diaper basket I have in the living room, which has a bow tied on the front. She untied it and then asked if I could teach her to tie a knot. I gave her verbal instructions to see how she would do with that, and she did great, tying knot after knot down the basket until almost all the string was gone. I was so impressed that I asked her if she wanted to learn how to tie her shoes.
  So I remember that there is some cute little jingle with the instructions to tie shoes.....but I couldn't remember the words. We struggled through the "one bunny ear" method, and even though she was being so patient, it was just too much technique for her. I decided to try the "two bunny ear" technique. (Do these methods actually have names??) She mastered it quicker than quick, so like any modern parent I busted out the camera. Twelve takes later I had a video of a success! The brilliance, the wonder!!!
  Then I started thinking....when I was a kid, one of my favorite daily hobbies was to tie my Dad's military boots into as many knots as possible. A habit that he really did not appreciate. I tied everything, craft ribbon, my hair, shoe laces, and electrical cords. I realized....Oh Em Geee, I just taught my kids to do that. I just taught my child to sabotage everything in the house that resembles a string.
  One giant step for my three year old, and three steps back for this Mommy. Oh knots!