When my boys were young, I took them to the park almost every week--it was free, a great way to run off energy, and more interesting than the backyard. Often we’d meet our friends, and the kids played while the moms talked. My kids loved those outings the best because they got to stay longer. When Mom had a friend to chat with, she was willing to stay much longer.
When it was time to go home, both boys had at least one or two treasures to bring home. It was usually rocks, or sometimes an interesting piece of wood. Anything that fit in their pockets, including bottlecaps and dead bugs. Mostly rocks, thank goodness! I tried to convince them to leave their precious finds for another treasure seeker, but I never had much success. I complained to my friend Linda about the collection of rocks taking up residence in my car, and she added a new Mom Tool to my bag.
Linda used to have the same problem with her daughter, until she discovered a solution. She placed a basket on their front porch. Every time they returned from the park, Caroline emptied her pockets into the basket. Linda was thrilled--she didn’t have rocks in her house or car (or her washing machine). Her daughter rested easy, knowing her treasures were secured and displayed in a prominent position for neighbors and friends to admire. It was one of those rare parent child moments when both parties declare victory.
Linda confessed that when the rock basket started to overflow, she grabbed a plastic grocery sack, dug out the bottom layer of rocks, and dumped them into the sack. She shared her lessons. “Removing rocks from the bottom versus the top is key--kids always know when their most recent treasures are missing. It’s a rookie mistake, and one I never made again.” Linda took her bag of rocks to work and threw them in the trash. “Always make sure you hide the bag where your kids can’t find it. And never ever put them in your home trash can. Learn from my mistakes!”
I couldn’t wait to start my own front door basket of treasures! As soon as we came home I leaped out of the car, eager to scour my house for the perfect container. I didn’t want to spend money on a basket just for storing rocks, but I wanted something decorative to brighten my front porch. After combing through all my closets, I found the perfect container—a round wicker basket with a handle. My boys felt honored their treasures held a special place on our front porch, and we had one less thing to argue about. I couldn’t follow all of Linda’s instructions--throwing away rocks seemed wasteful. I pitched them into our landscaping under the front window. And I always scooped from the bottom of the basket.
As the kids got older and stopped carting home rocks, I retired the treasure basket. But I couldn’t get rid of all of the treasures—they held memories for me too. I sorted through them and found a few unique and colorful rocks. Then I dug out a quart canning jar, taking out the middle but leaving the rim. This half full jar sits on a shelf in my hallway, waiting for more treasures. When I have them, I plan to take my grandchildren out on adventures, and let them bring home whatever fits in their pockets. I’ll have a treasure basket on my front porch, waiting to hold those precious treasures that only children can find. After the grandchildren leave, I’ll sort through the basket and add my jar. I’ll remember the adventures their fathers had and thank God that some things never change. Children will always have adventures, and fill their pockets with memories.
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1989. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com.
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