Childhood Obsessions

Is obsessive behavior just a rite of passage in childhood? I had no idea that these little creatures could get so attached to inanimate objects. Chad's first (and enduring) love was the vacuum. Then came flashlights, or what we thought was an obsession with flashlights. Little did we know, flashlights just made it easier for his little hands to get a hold of his true objects of affection - batteries. He honestly loves them. He has a stockpile that he keeps an inventory on. Just today, one of our smoke detectors started beeping (thankfully not at 3 am). When I opened it up, I noticed that we needed the square kind (it probably has a name other than square), not a common one in our house. Thinking I would have to run to the store, Chad informed me there was no need and quickly produced one for me. I'm really thinking of buying a Costco pack of batteries, wrapping them, and watching his face light up on Christmas morning. I'm sure we'll need them anyway.

Aubrey's obsessions are a bit more people-oriented. She loved Dora as a toddler, but the adoration has now transferred to princesses. We occasionally call her the bag lady, since she tends to gather tiny little objects, carrying them around in whatever she can find: purses, bags, laundry baskets, cardboard boxes. I often hear sounds of frustration coming down the staircase because she can't walk and carry her treasures safely down the stairs.

Sam, now slightly more mobile, is obsessed with paper products. He has already eaten a library book, and yes that is him eating the Ensign. Whoops. Atleast he's consuming good quality material.

I can think of a few obsessions from my own childhood:

1. Michael Jackson (I seem to recall being particularly fond of a poster with him wearing a yellow sweater vest). Michael was replaced with...

2. New Kids on the Block

3. The movie "Annie." I think I sang the song "Tomorrow" more times than my family cares to recall. My friend had the red Annie outfit (I was very jealous), but I had an Annie big wheel. The big wheel was replaced with...

4. My purple bike with a rainbow banana seat. That was one sweet ride. Whatever happened to banana seats? Way more comfortable than the "modern" bicycle seats.

I asked James what his childhood obsessions were, he named the typical boy stuff I remember my brothers playing with: He-Man, GI Joe, Star Wars. Those were the days...