Alphamania

Most boys will be really interested, almost obsessed with one thing. For some boys, it's trains. They can't get enough of Thomas. For other boys, it's trucks. They can name any kind of construction truck, what it does, and can stand there and watch them for hours. For others, it's cars. They have millions of Matchbox cars and love things on wheels. Yet, my kid developed a strange obsession with the alphabet & numbers when he was a little past two years old.

Others kids have fun at Travel Town to look at the trains, collect a bunch of Thomas the Tank Engine toys, collect a bunch of Matchbox cars, and stuff like that. My boy, on the other hand, wants anything that has to do with the alphabet - alphabet pasta, alphabet stickers, multiple sets of alphabet magnets (both uppercase and lowercase), making letters out of popsicle sticks, making letters out of cooked noodles. He loves cucumbers cut out into letters. He likes writing letters in the air. He can and has looked at random buildings/plants/whatever and seen letters in them like some see Jesus or the Virgin Mary in a cinnamon bun.

Because of this, he has some unusual favorites places.

1) Michael's: for the alphabet stickers

2) Parking structures: for the letters and numbers to tell you what level and row you're in

3) Vending machines: for the letters and numbers you have to push to get your drink; this has been the majority of his imaginary play lately: "Mama, which drink do you want? A3 or D12?...Press the buttons! Here's your drink!"

4) The DMV: I AM NOT KIDDING. He went one time with Paul and LOVED it because when they give you your ticket for your turn, it's a bunch of random letters and numbers which they announce and flash on a screen when it's your turn. The boy sat there calling out each one. I think they waited almost 40 minutes, but he was happy as a clam.

5) The ultimate place?? Lakeshore: This is where they sell educational supplies/toys/crafts/books, etc for elementary school teachers. It's heaven to him. The last time we went, he did a girly giggle, announcing, "I love this place! There's numbers & letters everywhere!"

Also, just in case you're wondering, he has done this on his own. I wonder if others think I'm the crazy Asian parent endlessly pushing my kid. I so am not. Having had grown up as such a kid, I intend to do the opposite with my kid. He can be whatever he wants to be.