Walks
We’ve started taking Asher on walks, where he gets to actually walk. Obviously, we don’t go far. For the 18 millionth time, I am grateful to live on a dead-end street that ends at a schoolyard. Sometimes in the evenings after dinner, we all go out and wander our street a little. These are child-led outings. They aren’t for exercise. They aren’t for getting anywhere. We tag along after Asher and usually end up stuck in one spot, staring at a neighborhood cat or a dog behind a back gate. These walks are for picking up sticks or rocks. For staring at marching ants or spiders or beetles. For throwing liquidambar spikey balls. For practicing walking up and down a tiny curb. They are about hearing the slap of fat, leather-clad baby feet on the pavement and excited whooping when he sees something that interests him.
Lucas thinks these walks are both silly and frustrating. After all, we hardly go anywhere at all, wandering about aimlessly, usually within a couple houses’ distance of our own home. Sometimes he takes off running to the stop sign at the top of the slight hill. Sometimes he runs headlong down to the school field, zipping past Asher so close and so fast the little one falls over. Asher is amazed by this show of big-kid prowess. He points and coos and giggles at his big brother’s antics … when he’s not staring at a bug, that is.
Today, Asher got his hat, went to the front door, and signed “go, go, go.” I had to remind him we needed clothes and shoes, too.
August 28, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I can understand the shoes, but her has to wear clothes too? 🙂 Good for you for letting him explore!
September 1, 2008 at 1:46 pm
That last sentence totally cracked me up. I can just picture him.