Sea of Toys

We live in a sea of toys. Since Kimmie was just a little tiny girl she has always been happiest when surrounded by all her toys. It is not enough that she can see them; they have to be all around her on the floor. Once she has the floor covered with her toys, then she is content.

We thought, hoped, she would outgrow this, but, at 17, she still likes to sit on the floor in the middle of all her toys.

It's not enough to get out her favorites, or just the ones she is going to play with right now. No, all the toys have to be out of their containers and strewn on the floor around her.

To control the mess we try to keep a few toys in each room. That works for a while, but eventually she starts carrying them all to the family room. She will go up to her room, carry stuffed animals to the top of the stairs, then throw them down. When she has them all at the bottom of the stairs, she comes down and carries them to the door of the family room where she tosses them in. When the floor is completely covered she sits down in the middle of the mess and plays contentedly.

We all take comfort in having our favorite things nearby. Kimmie just illustrates this in an extreme way. In the big scheme of things it is just a small inconvenience that is worth the bother if it makes her feel safe and secure.

--Mom