Once upon a time, Scarlett would hold our hands when she walked.
May, 2009
June, 2009
October, 2009
We no longer enjoy that privilege. She finds it much more enjoyable to sprint ahead, or lallygag slowly behind us. She does, however, put her small little hand out behind her, silently requesting help, when she is embarking down steps or stepping from one surface to another. Once the assistance for balance is no longer necessary, she quickly drops your hand, lest there be any question as to her ability to do something by herself.
Apparently, though, she likes other people to hold one another's hands. Yesterday we found ourselves on the UCLA campus with Schluva and Ya Ya for a few hours exploring PhD opportunities for Ya Ya. Scarlett enjoyed running through the grassy knolls and exploring all the steps on Bruin Walk and saying "sorry" to students she'd run into as they hurried on their way to class.
Scarlett's Zia was having some rough patches in her day and it seems that Scarlett sensed this. As we walked through the campus, Scarlett would take a break from exploring and run over to us. She repeatedly grabbed Katie's hand, and then Schluva's hand, and put them together, ordering them - in her quiet little voice - to "hold hands". They would try and hang on to hers but she would have no part of it. Once their hands were together, she would walk ahead and frequently peer behind to make sure they were still connected. If they weren't, she'd turn around and properly place their hands back together. The particularly amusing part was that she doesn't quite have the etiquette down for right-left hand pairings so they would usually find themselves with their arms crossing over their bodies or walking backwards.
Scarlett had no idea that just as she isn't too keen on holding her mommy's hand, her 25 year old Ya Ya was not really up for holding her own mother's hand as she walked across a University campus between meetings with potential faculty mentors. It seemed that, to Scarlett, holding hands was just what her Zia needed.
Once again, we are reminded by our toddler that the most simple things in life can truly be the best things in life.