Counting Coup-ons

Ann is really good with the boys. She's got a great sense of how to keep them engaged and out of trouble. For example, our oldest has reached the point where, while grocery shopping, she can give him a coupon and send him on a quest to find the item. He's gotten pretty good

My folks visited recently. We don't normally buy the Sunday paper anymore, but my dad does. And that means more coupons. So Ann got the oldest to sort the coupons. We also got a glimpse of how his mind works.

Ann had him sort the coupons into categories: dairy, frozen foods, office supplies, canned goods, personal hygiene, etc. She left him to his task. When he was done, he left the piles for her to check. He did pretty good on dairy and frozen foods. But there was a surprise in the office supplies - maxi pads.

Come to think of it, he has no idea what those are for. While we've introduced the concepts of the birds and the bees, monthly cycles aren't in his view of the world yet. The only "pads" he's ever dealt with are pads of paper. So why not put the coupon for "pads" with the office supplies?

The placement of the maxi pad coupon is a perfect example of how a kid can creatively problem solve and still be wrong. How many of us, as parents, lose sight of the creativity in our frustration with the error? I know I'm guilty. I get snippy or cranky because he's just not doing it right. And I think I'm shortchanging myself. I'm missing out on watching the boys grow, change and develop into creative little problem solvers.

I hope I can remember to appreciate my kids' expressions of creativity, even if the outcome isn't exactly what I expected.