Get That Plumpy Card

So, there I was sitting in my office working, minding my own business, happily busy. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I hear it: “Daddy?” Oh no! It’s the nuclear weapon of cute! It’s the WMD of irresistible!

I turn around to see LittlestPage, in all of her just-turned-three glory, standing there with a gameboard tucked under one arm (reaching almost to the floor) and a Tupperware sandwich box full of cards under the other.

“Would you play Candyland with me?”

There is a long pause. I resist for a few seconds. “But I’m… You see sweetie, I…”. The cute is too strong. I can’t possibly resist.

“Of course I’ll play Candyland with you. Let’s sit right here on the floor against the treadmill.”

It’s a vicious, neck and neck game. She gets stuck in the molasses swamp, giving me the edge I need. However, the joy of victory is somewhat dulled by the fact that LittlestPage doesn’t care a hoot about getting to the end of the board. She thinks that the only part of the game worth anything is drawing the “Plumpy” card. The Plumpy square is right near the beginning of the board, so if you get the card it’s like having to start the whole game over again. But that doesn’t matter. She loves that card. If she draws the Plumpy card, it’s a great game for her.

Once again LittlestPage teaches me a lesson. It doesn’t matter what everyone else says the point of the game is, I have my eyes on something far better. Even if it doesn’t look like success to everyone else, I finish happy.