Life's a puzzle

lamlet no. 3 completed his first 1,500 puzzle when he was six years old. With help from dad and me, and from his siblings too. But I dare say he completed 60% of it on his own. Before that he had figured out simple children's puzzles with huge cartoon pictures and tackled 200-piece pictures. for christmas last year, he declared that he had not found any that was challenging enough and asked for a 2,000-piece puzzle for Christmas.

when my other half granted his wish, i gave him so much flack, because really, do you have to spend so much on the whim of an eight-year-old?

he hasn't started on the puzzle yet. he intends to this monday. especially since he has just completed the 1,500-piece i brought back for him from the States. within a week flat. which cost a song in comparison to the prices we pay. which reminds me of my last post, but ... never mind that, what's amazing is how this child manages to 'depuzzle' a puzzle so quickly! obviously i've got a little prodigy on my hands, though i doubt if there's a market for a puzzle-solver.

when he was down to the last 10 pieces or so, i thought i would add a twist to events. i've always nagged that he should be more careful with the pieces less one day he should get down to almost the last piece and find one missing fragment. that is the ultimate torture for someone who enjoys a good puzzle.

just to bring the lesson home, i spirited a single piece with me to the office. when i returned, he didn't bounce up to me with the usual exuberant enthusiasm i've come to expect from him. obviously there were tinges of guilt - like - mum was right, i did lose one piece. but of course, it came out after the story of how everyone tore the house upside down looking for the missing link came to light. then, amazingly, he cottoned on to my plan and accused me of taking it! of course not, i said innocently. and later when i closed the hole triumphantly, i declared i had found it on the floor. not that he bought my fib.

in truth, i had taken the piece because i wanted the satisfaction of being the one to put in the last piece. but shhh ... don't tell him that!

yeah, the lamlets' mum is a little loony ...