A gift that will make your head spin

Recently a neighbor friend brought over a thank-you gift for The Toddler. Now The Toddler had no idea why he was the beneficiary of this gift. But he was more than happy to accept it.

At the sight of the gift, The Toddler’s eyes expanded to approximately twice their normal size. He let it be known to all that he was VERY excited about THE PRESENT.

The Toddler tore into the wrapping like a hound digging up a bone. When the ritualistic shredding was complete, he was ready to have his way with the NEW TOY.

The newness of THE TOY could not be questioned. You can tell that a toy is brand new because it has been packaged so securely that it could never escape its packaging. Who knew that toys were flight risks? Perhaps Homeland Security could take some lessons from toy manufacturers.

Every parent surely has been confronted with a child waiting in anticipation of a new toy only to be stymied by tangled wires that weave in so many directions that you wonder how they got that way in the first place.

And finally when you manage to release the toy from all those wires and you have that momentary feeling of accomplishment, you see the words that all parents dread: Some assembly required.

By now The Toddler’s nuclear reactor gauge is heading toward a meltdown. He’s tugging at your pants while you desperately try to decipher the assembly instructions that are about as difficult to read as hieroglyphics.

All of the trouble pays off, however, when you watch The Toddler attempt to master the Sit ‘n’ Spin, a toy that you played on when you were a child. You smile when he has trouble grasping the concept of the sitting aspect of a SIT 'n’ Spin. And you laugh out loud when he snares Mommy to coach him on the proper method to use the NEW TOY.
The 'classic' Sit 'n' Spin

After a few minutes he looks like an old pro on the Sit ‘n’ Spin. Well, maybe more like a rookie. He fails to complete an arc of more than 45 degrees. But Daddy is sure in time he'll be able to go the full 360. Of course by then Daddy will be secretly removing the batteries so that Simon Says is quieted and Daddy won't need to reach for that aspirin bottle.

Just when Daddy finds a little peace and quiet, of course, along will come another toy. Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots. Spirograph. Shrinky Dinks. More toys from his past coming back to haunt him.

Daddy’s head spins just at the thought of it.

Just like it did when he was a kid, twirling ‘round on that Sit ‘n’ Spin.