I can't say for sure what exactly it is that my newly inaugurated 2 year old thinks of as he explores the exciting and sometimes scary landscape of life. But I have some guesses........
Kai doesn't see the big wheel as merely a three-wheeled vehicle to leisurely scoot himself around on. He sees it as a way to test his Mama's sprinting abilities. He sees it as a rocket to sit on as he lifts his feet up to barrel down the steep driveway headed dangerously for the road below.
Kai's glass isn't half-empty. It is always half-full....because it is more satisfying to dump juice out of a half-full glass.
There is no problem (or barricade) that is insurmountable for Kai. Any object can become Mt. Everest which was meant to be scaled. And this Mt. Everest (and all others in the house) have been taken to the dump. (pardon the blurry image)
Kai does not see placed before him the world's ugliest cake with two candles to blow out. He views the sad looking birthday monument as a way to practice his fire eating technique so that he can run away with the circus....where he belongs.
I can tell you what I see. I see a boy who runs like a fugitive from the hounds when he sees a Kleenex in my hand. But he has no qualms about wiping his snoobers all over my pants.
He is a boy who loves to give hugs and kisses.....after he has walloped you with an unforgiving blunt object or one of his stumpy limbs. The kiss is accompanied by a surprised look on his face as if, "Did I do that?" and then the obligatory "...k?" (Kai speak for, "Are you okay?")
He is the spittin' image of Jay and has his Daddy's hands: meaty, thick, capable, caring and strong.
His favorite person on the green earth is "Oh-wee" (Owen). Coming in at a strong second, possibly even a tie, is his Daddy. If Jay so much as sniffles or sneezes, Kai comes out of the woodwork and says, "Daddy....k?" and gives him a rare gentle pat.
Kai isn't a "wait and see" kind of guy. He is an "I'm going to make it happen at all costs" kind of guy. The kind of person you would want on your side if you were stranded on a desert island. But NOT the kind of person you would want on your side if you wanted to go watch a chess tournament or take a leisurely stroll through a museum of rare artwork. For that matter, he isn't the kind of guy you want on your lap at church, either.
If I can only learn to try and see the world through Kai's eyes I might see a world full of endless possibilities instead of insurmountable challenges. I would understand the full meaning behind "carpe diem" instead of wondering "what exactly did I accomplish today?" And I might also learn that wearing your food on your face is better than wearing extra calories on your thighs!
Whatever it is that Kai is supposed to teach me, I'm grateful for it. And I'm trying to be a willing student. I'm grateful that he has been entrusted to my care and I can only hope and pray that I don't dampen his enthusiasm for life or damage his drive to explore and understand the world.
