Puzzle Mania

Yusuf is finally showing an interest in puzzles! I have to literally bite my tongue sometimes to prevent myself from offering commentary and assistance. As a very spacial person, it makes me crazy when he does things like try an edge piece on the inside. Crazy, I tell you! I take some deep breaths or otherwise distract myself, and masha’Allah! Slow and steady he works it out his way — what a sense of accomplishment! Certainly better than just following Mama’s directions.

The puzzle mania (we’re talking at least two or three times daily) is aided by the fact that I let a “character” into the house. Generally, all comic characters (read: super heros), movie and TV characters (Nemo, Dora), etc. are completely banned from the house. I’m convinced it’s all a conspiracy of mass marketing, advertising aimed at kids, designed to foster nothing but consumerism. So, when Yusuf asked for a puzzle, I think he wanted it primarily because it featured Lightning McQueen from Cars (he hasn’t seen the movie but knows the characters from his classmates at school last year). I chose to look at it as a foray into the world of puzzles, a starter puzzle that excites him, and bought it. Only $3, after all. It’s a big hit, the 24-piece jigsaw is the perfect level for him, so insha’Allah we’ll try to work a few others (without characters!) into the mix. Perhaps we’ll have to dust off our Arabic and English alphabet puzzles we have downstairs as well.

Accomplishment.

Lightning McQueen

I spent another $3 on a 1500 piece puzzle for myself, to model the behavior, of course. I actually love the work and just hope that Mansoor won’t run off with any of the pieces!