Magic Bottle

Sometime before Christmas I gave Rachel what has proven to be her very favorite toy of all time (so far in her 2 years). As I recall, she was being annoying to Missy (or maybe Me) and to get her to calm down and distract her I told her I had something special for her. This was not entirely true but I was sure I could come up with something to put in her hands. Glancing through some things, I grabbed an old film canister (I know- film for cameras- crazy). I had kept one for many years because my high school art teacher taught me to use them as the ideal tool for smoothing tape or glued paper. The thing is- I don't do that often and I thought it might occupy her for a minute which was all I was going for.

I handed it to Rachel, who seemed please but told me it was empty and what should go in it. I reached out, grabbed 4 pennies and put them in, telling her if she opened it I'd have to take it away.

That was about 2 months ago. Since then, a mound of toys was added to our collection. And yet still, Rachel's "bottle" is usually in her hands several times a day. When it's missing she gets help finding it. It accompanies us to the store sometimes. I would never have dreamed she'd attach to it this much- but it sure makes me rethink what we spend on all these presents every year.