Kids Love December Freedom

"Going somewhere?”

Toddlers have amazing speed, crawling away from who ever is chasing them. It’s usually two or four year-old brothers, sisters and cousins. Crawling kids love December holidays, because it’s a break from all kinds of contraptions like walkers, playpens and strollers.

They love December because rules are lax when there are visitors. They crawl all over the place with the knowledge that someone will pick them up if they fall because of the Olympic speed. Funny enough, they never crawl into a table or chair. They are that perceptive. Don’t ask me how. Adults do. They bump into chairs after having one too many because it is the season to be jolly,

What is good about these crawling athletes is keeping us on our toes because of their destination. They love speeding towards open doors. That’s why in December, we take off shoes and sit near doors, waiting for them. Doors also mean bay windows, for families with big houses. What attracts them to sunshine, streaming through the window? They even stare at snow.

Toddlers know something about doors. I wonder why because they are too young to know that doors are independence. We come in and go out. Come to think of it, I might be wrong about independence because the stomach forces us to go out and find money to buy food. Farmers are more fortunate. They take a spade or a machete and come back with something to eat.

In December, we sit on the floor near the door, to protect streaming toddlers from falling on the steps outside or to stop them from putting something in their mouths. Must they taste everything? We also block the door to shield them from the taxman, who is licking his fingers, waiting for them to grow up and get a job.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger