The Dinosaurs Were Everywhere

I’ll take small children for $400, Alex.

Two different Monopoly games, a toy version of every dinosaur from the Jurassic era, and a deck of cards.

What is, “The floor of the classroom 5 minutes before lights out?”

YES!

When I walked upstairs to the room over the garage (we call it the classroom) I was planning to help our two younger children get transitioned from play time to bath time and bed time routines.

That was the plan.

Mike Tyson I think said it best about the next wave of feeling that rolled over me.

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

There was even a fort built out of a cardboard box, chairs, and a blanket.

It’s amazing the physiology of children. They have energy that knows no limits until, mysteriously, when it’s time to pick up, the unlimited reserves of said energy are completely gone.

I CAN’T PICK UP!!! THERE’S TOO MUCH!

In my head, I’m happy to go get a giant black trash bag and help them “pick up”. In this scenario, they will never have to worry about picking up the stuff again. Just this once, and no more picking up.

But then I hear my wife’s voice in my head. Her patience, her grace, and her incredible wisdom is right there reminding me that my reactionary methods will not accomplish anything other than tears, frustration, and relationship damage.

As an adult, it’s hard to remember how overwhelming something as simple as picking up a room can be. But then I realize there are parts of my own life that are just as overwhelming to me as a cluttered room is to a 3 or 6 year old.

My job then, is to help them simplify the work. To help them solve the problem of the mess they created.

So we get started. I sit down on the carpet and we pick up one thing at a time. The dinosaurs go into the dino container. Pick up all the Duplo Legos and put them in the yellow bucket. Hand me that pillow and I’ll put it on the futon.

Because the instructions, “pick this room up!” (there is definitely an exclamation point here) are sometimes too complicated.

But, “pick up the yellow block under the desk”, that’s simple. Even a 3 year old can do it.

Too often I find myself getting overwhelmed by the complexity of life. The complexity of running a business. The complexity of writing. The complexity of relationships.

When life is yelling at me to “pick up this room!”, that makes it really hard to get anything at all done.

But when it’s just, “pick up that game piece and put it in the box,” I can handle that pretty simply.

There are days when I feel overwhelmed with business. With relationships. With life.

It’s those days when I have to remember to keep it simple. What is the next step I need to take to move forward?

Where is the next dinosaur toy for me to pick up and put away?

I can stare at life and yell that it’s too much, or I can look for then next toy to pick up and put away.

When you feel overwhelmed, bring it back to basics. Focus on the simple, the next Lego piece you need to pick up.