This week I realized just how "busy" my little Nora is. For many months now her interest has been picking through the cabinets and exploring the pantry. Unfortunately the pantry is where we keep our dog Zoey's food. She also likes to play in the food and therefore we're not able to let her roam free in the pantry.
After sometime I told my wife Regina, "Hey we have to get a few baby locks". Now Regina has an remarkable sense of patience. Nora's new found love for cabinet diving simply doesn't bug her, but for me it seems like everytime I turn around she's in the cabinets. To tell you the truth it's rather cute, but it's also very time consuming to constantly follow behind her closing cabinets.
Yesterday I realized each time she plays in the cabinet she always look to either Regina or myself and claps her hands. She has the biggest smile on her face and she's seeking for confirmation that she's done something good. I noticed yesterday that all cabinets were locked with the exception of one. Particularly this cabinet contains the tupper ware containers. I asked Regina, "Why do you leave that cabinet unlocked'. By which she responded, "Oh, I don't know I just like to let her explore, she likes it".
At this moment it struck me as how important this phase of exploration is to my sweet Nora. This was never about me keeping her out of the cabinets. This phase is about allowing her to explore her curiosity, and providing a positive confirmation of her accomplishment.
The truth is we may not always see the purpose behind our children's persistence or curiosity, but our role as parents is to maintain encouragement and support as well as assist in the growth of that curiosity. Nora's big smile and search for positive confirmation has been placed on her heart by our lord. As a parent the best thing I can do for her is to reinforce what God is planting in her heart. That small seed of curiosity will someday grow into major life accomplishments. It is also a building block of the role I will play as her father.
Discussion