An Obsession… healthy or not.

I was concerned that your obsession with doors bordered on unhealthy. An odd fixation. Obscure fetish.

You could spend your entire day opening and shutting doors. Every afternoon, we go down to the mailbox to play “openandshut,” which is to say we go and get the mail. At the mailbox “bay” you take rocks and stick them into the bottom large parcel boxes. The neighbors are accustomed to seeing me sitting in the grass next to the mailboxes reading the mail as you open the door, place rocks in, close the door, open the door, take rock out, close the door. Move to the next box, open the door, put the rock in, close the door, open the door, remove the rock, close the door, open the door, put the rock back in… etc. In fact, one neighbor recognized you at the vet’s office and referred to you as The Mailbox Bandit.

Every night when you go to bed, either Mommy or Daddy will blow you kisses at your door as we exit. You blow kisses back and then immediately lean forward with your arm outstretched, hand waving saying “shut. shut. shut.”

Your daddy had to get fitted for a suit recently and you and I sat waiting. When your daddy walked out of the dressing room, he left the door open. There were several people between you and the door and I could tell you really wanted to run over there and shut that door, but you were too afraid. You were literally itching to shut that door, but were stuck to your spot on the floor next to me. Instead, you held out a very agitated hand and said “shut. shut. shut. shut.”

At the very least, we know if we’re anywhere with a door, we don’t have to keep you entertained. When you and I were in Branson and I was shopping, you and Auntie played openandshut with all the doors in the dressing room. When we were on the cruise with Poppa-O and Pam, you spent a majority of the cocktail reception going in and out of their bathroom.

We met another two year old at the wedding and found you’re not alone. According to this little guy’s grandma, he could also spend hours opening and shutting doors. What a relief. We’re now teaching you to knock and say “Who is it?” when you’ve shut yourself into the bathroom.