I think my 2 1/2 year old grandson likes older women!
Well, there is, of course, his Mama and 2 Nanas, but that is not really what I am talking about. By older I mean 6 years of age. When you are 16 - it's puppy love. When you are 10 - it's a crush. At 2 1/2, smitten seems to be the right word. Whatever you might call it, there was definitely something going on inside Spidey's brain at the park one day this past summer.
His usual interaction with other kids at the playground can best be described as a passive acknowledgement of their presence. He has a sunny disposition so smiling at the other climbers, sliders and swingers as they pass each other is just natural. And they will occasionally challenge each other about who goes down the slide first or who's turn it is to swing, but like many other things at this age, those encounters are short-lived and soon forgotten. But there's not much else in the way of conversation at this age. They are all just too busy expending energy, much to the glee of those watching over them on that day, including me. Energy = fatigue = nap time = time for grandpa to read a book.
However, on this warm, July morning at the playground a "vision" appeared to Spidey out of the blue and everything else in his world stopped. SHE had long pig-tails and was wearing a yellow t-shirt adorned with menacing dinosaurs. As she ran towards the play area where he was standing he didn't take his eyes off her. Uncharacteristically, he boldly walked up to her, waved and said, "Hey, hey, what are you doing?" I think he was actually in her space! At first I thought it was the T-Rex on her shirt. It was only after he proceeded to follow her every move throughout the large playground that I began to think it had nothing to do with a budding interest in Paleontology.
I watched him in awe. What a move. Way to go Spidey!
No matter where she went, including all the equipment built for 5 year olds and up, there was Spidey in hot pursuit. He struggled at times climbing in places where a 2 1/2 year shouldn't be but he was not letting anything slow him down. (To Spidey's Mom and Dad - Just so you know, I was not sitting on a park bench with a cup of coffee all this time enjoying the encounter. I was right behind him or under him making sure his mission was not creating a safety issue.) It was like I wasn't there. His focus was on the yellow blur dashing about the playground.
At one point, she walked up to him and said, "I will be right back" and ran over to her grandmother on the other side of the park. As she ran away, he actually stood there, head bowed, arms at his side and seemed very sad. He said to no one in particular, "Where did she go?"
It was very cute.
When she returned, knowing that she had an admirer, she said to Spidey, "I am back." and ran off. He perked up immediately and, yes, was right behind her. As she was climbing out of a tunnel near where I was standing she said to me, "Is he going to do everything I do?" She was on to him. I said, "probably". She sighed and asked me how old he was. I told her and she said proudly,
Well, I am 6!"
While she rested a moment, Spidey seized the moment and said with a great deal of bravado, "Watch!" He then pulled himself on to a table as if he he had made it to the summit of Mt. Everest, stood up and - I am not kidding - raised both arms over his head jumping around like Sylvester Stallone at the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum in Rocky and said, "Look at me." It was awesome. Who is this kid? The girl-in-the-yellow-dinosaur shirt looked at him then looked at me. Not quite sure what she was thinking. Perhaps a little impressed and maybe just a little incredulous.
And then she was gone.
Spidey watched her go. What was he going to do? Will he run after her? Will tears stream down his face?
Nah! He ran to the slide and did a couple of chin-ups at the top before whooshing down. Landed on his feet and was off to climb the wall.
He is after all 2 1/2.
Just another great day to be a grandpa.
