the early stages of a TLC television program

There must be something about the style of parenting that Kevin and I employ at this house.

I don’t know exactly where to point the finger.

But it appears that with our last two children, we are creating hoarders.

Finn has spent four years obsessed with carrying things.  Piles of things.  Little things.  Soft things.  Unimportant things.  Stashed in homemade bags.  Loaded into her metal grocery cart.  (Perhaps the grocery cart purchase only added fuel to the fire.)

And now her teeny tiny brother is following her lead.

The kid hoards everything.

He’s not even that particular about his stash – the rules seem to be simple.

1. The items must be many.

2. All items must accompany him everywhere.

3. No one may touch said items.

Lately he’s been storing his treasures in a giant fishing net.

That’s ridiculously inconvenient.

This morning’s collection, stacked beside his pillow in his crib, included a six-inch plastic scorpion, his favorite blanket named Baby Timmy, a fist-sized rock and a small piece of wood.