Great Expectations

Why is it that kids want to play with obscure items that aren't "real" toys? You know, like when you give them a big Christmas gift and they would rather play with the box? My Three Monkeys are very much that way. Alas, my Princess seems to be of that same mindset. We have all kinds of pacifiers, teething rings, dolls, blocks, and other toys for her chewing / teething pleasure... but she prefers socks. Socks!

It reminds me of a little dog we used to have who loved to hoard socks. We wondered why so many socks were missing that we could never put together a matching pair. We assumed that the dryer must be some kind of wormhole to an alternate universe, which seemed to attract socks for whatever reason. Then we discovered the "nest" of socks under the bed... and the guilty pup snoring atop her mound of treasure.

I suppose it could be worse - a preference for underwear, for example. Nevertheless, Princess was *supposed* to teethe on the crystal-encrusted rattle we bought her. And that brings us back to Parenting Lesson #1: Never have pre-conceived expectations for your children! They will do everything they can to flaunt it in your face.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some socks to wash...