Doodles is in that in-between stage. He’s well beyond little kid. But he’s not yet fully a big kid. And his room reflects this shambles. Books teeter precariously on his bedside shelf. Robotic pieces pile on the table, next to a motorized dog and his now-neglected Bakugan. His closet is still brimming with dress-up clothes but his magic set and Star Wars figures are in frequent rotation. I decided his room needed help. We had to organize. To start, he needs a bookshelf. A real bookshelf.
Adam: Shall we go to Ikea and get one?
Me: Those are crap. They fall apart so quickly. He needs a quality shelf that will last him a while.
Adam does some research. He finds a place nearby that has nice quality unfinished bookshelves.
Adam: What size should we get him?
Me: I dunno. What will work.
Adam measures the space. He jots down notes. He looks at the space again.
Adam: Do you want to get him a six foot one or a five foot one?
Me: Six feet seems too big. Will a five foot fit? I think we should do that.
Adam: Yeah, that will fit.
Me: Are you sure? Five feet seems really big.
Adam: No, it’ll be fine.
Me: I dunno. Maybe measure again?
Adam: It’ll fit. I promise you, it’ll work.
Me: Okay. Go for it.
Adam calls. The five foot one is not available. They’ll order it. It’ll take five long weeks. When I get my head wrapped around a project, I want it to happen now. But now is not possible. But this is one of the many reasons I’m in therapy so I agree to wait the five weeks.
Finally, it arrives at the store!
Me: How will you get it home?
Adam: In the van.
Me: It won’t fit in the van.
Adam: Of course it’ll fit in the van.
Beetle was nearby. I say to her: Adam thinks it’s going to fit in the van.
Beetle: Oh, it totally will. You won’t believe how much will fit in those things.
Adam and the kids go to pick up the bookshelf. He comes home. With the bookshelf on top of the van.
Adam: It didn’t fit.
My cousins come to town. I have my strapping young seventeen-year-old cousin help Adam carry the bookshelf up the stairs. Up our narrow stairs. Up our not-up-to-code unbelievably tight stairs. Because Doodles’s room is upstairs.
I’m not saying a word. Not a peep. I won’t mention a thing. But I will mention that our expensive, not-Ikea bookshelf looks highly okay in the basement. And Adam is now supposed to be researching bookshelves. Narrow bookshelves. And the books in Doodles’s room are still teetering.
