The Tale of the Spoon

A spoon. For most of us, a spoon is nothing more than a vehicle to get our morning cereal or winter time soup or summer ice cream into our mouths. They are a handy little invention, but we don't really think much about them. After using one, most people just throw it in the sink or dishwasher to be cleaned so it is ready for its next use.

But for some, like this cute little boy who has cheerios plastered all over his face and shirt, a spoon is so much more.

It all started last week. He finished eating, I began to clean up those sweet, sticky, chubby hands. I needed him to let go of the spoon so I could de-stickify (yep that's a word) his fingers. I had to pry the spoon from his hand and then he started crying like I had just taken away his favorite toy. Thinking that was pretty funny, I wiped off the spoon and returned it to my broken-hearted little boy.

The tears stopped.

So, I got him out of his chair and let him go play. He carried the spoon around the entire morning and afternoon and evening. He would put it down only occasionally so he could inspect a new toy (maybe 15 seconds tops) and then would pick the spoon back up and carry on. I did distract him and take the spoon away at bedtimes, but other than that, let him have it! I figured there is really no reason to make that a battle.

The next day the same scenario played out again. Over and over and over again this has become our routine. It's been about a week now.

Which brings us to this morning. My little guy held his spoon all through breakfast and spent the morning toddling around with it. At nap time, I picked him up to rock him. He laid his head down on my chest, spoon clutched in his chubby little hand and I just didn't have the heart to take it away. I laid him in his bed and handed him his blanket and giraffe. And just for the sake of effort, I tried once more to take the spoon. He wasn't interested. So I left him with his spoon.

He's been sleeping soundly for almost an hour.

I am so in love with him!

Just for record's sake, he is teething and his spoon makes the perfect chew toy. He's not just always prepared for a meal.