This is the one about my toys.
Posted August 21st, 2009 by Mike Lawson
I have a bunch of toys on my desk. And you might think, “well he works with kids, so that’s understandable.” Right?
Well yes and no. Yes, the “collection” of toys (which includes a slinky, a homemade rubber band ball, and a Mr. Potato Head to name a few) started as a something that the kids enjoyed seeing and talking about. But it’s kind of blossomed into something very different. Now, I’m super-possessive of these toys.
“Can I play with the slinky, Mr. Mike?”
“No. They get stretched really easy.”
The only toy I let kids play with is my Rubix cube. And I even offer a prize. I’ll buy lunch to any kid that can solve the cube in an hour.
And through the years I’ve also collected a very impressive collection of children’s books. And I’ve only paid for five or six of them. And just like my toys, I’ve become very possessive about these books.
“Can I read The Dumb Bunnies book, Mr. Mike?”
“Only if you promise to return it when you are done.”
It’s bizarre that I’ve started collecting these childish things, and then I don’t want to share them with children because they may muck them up.
2 Responses to “This is the one about my toys.”
August 21st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Any chance you grew up an only child Mike?
Desks have to be augmented with enjoyable things. I’ve got toys at mine too.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
On having things at your desk, I totally agree with Derek. Having personal items allows you show off your personality at work without actually saying anything. Unfortunately, we’re going through 5S training here at work and we’ll soon be required to have no more than 3 personal items on our desks (yes, a kleenex box counts as a personal item). Kind of sucks.
Regarding not sharing your “children’s toys and books” with actual children, I don’t blame you. Most kids mess things up. Even though it may be unintentional, it still stinks so there’s nothing wrong with making them see with their eyes and not with their hands.
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