not far from the tree

Last Saturday I took Liam with me on a run to Joann Fabrics. I was looking for inspiration for the recipe book I volunteered to make for Laurie; Liam was just along for the ride, so I thought. But the boy had plans of his own. In the same way that his mom comes up with sewing and crafting ideas, Liam's plans evolved as we wheeled through the store. At first when he started asking for items, I absentmindedly said no. No, you can't have some fabric. Why would you want buttons? This paper is really expensive. (oh, yeah, 50 cents.) But after a stream of nos, I saw his sincere disappointment and decided to relent and let him purchase a few things. His choices: a black nylon remnant, black buttons and a sheet of scrapbook paper. I figured he didn't really know what he was doing, but the items were relatively inexpensive, so I let it go.


When we got home, in no time at all, Liam cut out a cape and then glued scraps of fabric onto a strip of cardboard to make a sword. The only real help he needed was for someone to thread the needle so he could sew on the button. Then he started snipping away at the scrapbook paper, wielding his glue stick, until a dragon emerged. And suddenly the whole story became clear. He did have a plan. Like his mom, it most likely came to be as he studied the fabrics, buttons and paper in the store, or not even until the scissors were in hand. But I never would have dreamed that those three cheap little items could have become a magical world. I am still in awe. It's amazing what that boy can show me when I just say yes.