How the New Becomes Old

This is how the new becomes old for kids, or at least mine. ?I’m sure any parent has seen the process or some variation of it.

Stage 1: It’s New!

This is where the kid figures out a new trick, flavor, toy, movie, etc. ?It is fabulous and they must tell the world about it. ?And I?assure?you it–whatever it is–is the best in the whole wide universe and beyond.

Stage 2: Loving It!

This is the stage where the it must be loved, excessively and repeatedly. ?If it’s a new trick then mommy and daddy must watch it 50 gajillion times. ?If it’s a new flavor, it’s all the kid wants to eat for a week, maybe longer. ?If it’s a toy, then no one else may touch it and they play with it non stop. ?If it’s a movie there will be no other movie watching in the house unless it is this movie. ?You get the point. ?This stage can last anywhere from a week to a month–or longer for reasons I have never been able to figure out.

Stage 3: That’s Boring.

This is the stage where the once essential it begins to lose it’s appeal. ?It is still a part of the do-eat-play-watch repertoire, but it is now joining the ranks of other things, which can be claimed as boring even while in use. ?It is now old.

As I said, this process has some variation and old things don’t necessarily become hated things, they simply lose their?obsessive?appeal. ?As a parent this is both?fascinating?and annoying. ?I love watching their faces light up when things are new, but detest it when things become boring because then a have no clue what to suggest they do so I can have two minutes of thinking time (read: go to the bathroom without followers).

How does the process work in your house, with your kids? ?Do you find yourself going through this process?

*Photo: My son and daughter. ?Photo also featured in my post Life Without a Babysitter.