Outsmarted by a 3 Year Old

So the other day, my darling Maggie was sitting up to the island in the kitchen putting together her Dora puzzle. Maggie loves puzzles and has become quite proficient at putting them together. This particular puzzle she has completed many times so it really isn’t much of a challenge for her anymore.

Wanting to engage her blossoming intellect (while also hoping to buy us a little quite time), I thought I would throw down a little challenge to her. I walk over to her while she was taking the puzzle apart and I began turning all the puzzle pieces over facedown / blank-side-up. I then said to her, “Maggie… I want you to try to put this puzzle together upside-down. I tell you what… if you can put this puzzle together upside-down, Daddy will take you to the store and buy you your very first bicycle.” I figured this would keep her engaged for an while and allow Nicola and I a chance to visit while getting ready for supper.

Looking at all the blank puzzle pieces before her she replies, “…really? Hhhmmhh.” So.. she starts humming a little tune, turning the pieces over and playing with them. I figured she kind-of really didn’t hear me and was just going about her business so I turned my attention to Nicola and Lyla.

A few minutes later Maggie says aloud, yet to herself, “… I am SO EXCITED that Daddy is going to get me a new bike…” This statement brought my attention back to her and the puzzle before her. As I glanced across the island I didn’t see blank white puzzle pieces… I saw the nearly completed picture of Dora and Boots so I blurt out, “…no, Maggie I said you have to put the puzzle together upside-down if you want Daddy to take you to the store and buy you your very first bicycle.” To which she promptly replied, “…but Daddy…. I DID put the puzzle together upside-down. Now I’m going to go put on my boots so we can go to the store… I’m SO EXCITED … hey Momma… Daddy is going to get me a new bike!!!”

Well would you look at that….

Crap.

JRM 9/16/2010