Are You Smarter Than Your Child?

Lately, I would have to say "no." Never mind that I have the larger brain and 29 times more experience; I continue to underestimate Annalee and her abilities (which are constantly increasing) and find myself following in her wake of overturned trash cans and emptied bookshelves, marveling that a 9 month old could outsmart me. (Was all that money I spent on college just a waste?)

That is why I present to you this one small success with the pomp and fanfare of the grandest of victories. [cue trumpets]

BEHOLD!
What you see is Tavi's food and water dishes, which my little brainiac loves to dump out (aaaaaaaaaall oooooooooover). Early on I figured out that I could put a stick in front of the area to keep her from knocking them over with her walker, but when she was crawling I was out of luck. I couldn't think of anything that would keep her out, but let Tavi pass. Trouble is, when she turned 9 months old she was suddenly smarter than the dog (smarter than all of us, really). A gate? Keeps them both out. A little dog door cut in a box? They would both fit because they're the same size. What could I do?

The answer came when I was vacuuming one day (it's been known to happen) and stepped on the wrong side of the plastic that protects the carpet from my rolling desk chair--ouch! Then I thought this could work! So I bought 3 feet of plastic carpet protector at Lowes (the kind that comes on a big roll to go down a hall) and stuck it to the kitchen floor wrong-side-up.

It worked.


It worked!


Nathan was worried that she would hurt herself on it (it sure hurts when WE step on it!) but Annalee only touched it with a crawling hand, just twice, and decided that it didn't feel very nice. She hasn't bothered to try since! I was so excited that I used some more to protect my living room plant.

I am so smart! I am so smart! S * M * R * T! I mean, uh, S * M * A * R * T! I am so smart!

Someday when I am old and gray--like in 15 years--I will sit in the corner in a rocking chair, clutching a dead plant, and repeat over and over "I sure got her! He he he! She thought she could get it but I tricked her!" (I don't know why senility is such a mystery to some people--you obviously get it from your kids.)

Ah . . . my one victory.