Curiosity

Anyone who has a young infant knows they are "very" curious. Hikaru is no exception. His non-stop hands go everywhere, and he notices everything and anything -- from tiny specks on the floor (which he also tastes for flavor) to an unopened package we just received. He'll open and close any unsecured drawers, cabinet doors, boxes, bags, whatever. The airport should hire him as a security guard. Now that he's more mobile, he can reach farther, and go to places faster than we can stop him.

However, there's also the saying that "curiosity killed the cat". Hikaru got into a little trouble the other day. He was staying at my mother-in-laws house, and he climbed over a barrier they placed around their home heater, and burned both his hands and one foot on the hot grille. (My in-laws live in an old house where the furnace and hot air comes out from under the floor.) His hands now have burn blisters in the form of a grid pattern, and with a "cross" burned on one foot.

It looks pretty ugly, but Hikaru is doing ok, and recovering from his burn incident with a little Motrin and Chinese medicine. We've been a little stressed out from worry, though.

The incident gave me some stuff to think about. In addition to some better child proofing and monitoring policies, it also made me think about "curiosity". Curiosity is a basic human instinct. We wouldn't be who we are, including our interests and hobbies that we enjoy, if we weren't curious people. The sense of mystery, wonder, and exploration is the "stuff" that gives life some purpose and meaning.

As I was thinking about ways to restrict Hikaru's adventures, I also became a little concerned that our "care might kill his curiosity". I wondered what effect our repetitive "NO's" might eventually do to him. I wouldn't want Hikaru to turn into a well-behaved, but motionless zombie baby. At the moment, though, he has a pretty strong will, so nothing seems to deter him. But we should probably maintain a good balance between educating him on life's dangers, and continuing to encourage him on his discoveries.