Toe Spices

Our children have a fascination with their toes. Hannah started when she was 3 - 4 . She would sit and pick the lint out of her toes that gathered from wearing socks. She established the name..."Toe-Spices". Her fetish ended when summer came and socks were replaced with sandals or bare-toes. I laugh because when she gets in the tub and has worn socks for the day, little toe spices are found floating in the water. Daniel also has dug for toe spices but quickly lost interest.

Then there is Jonathan - The Toe-Spice King. He recently has discovered the fuzzy toe-spices between each of his toes -- he is fascinated with them! Yesterday in the middle of the day he plopped himself on the outdoor couch, took off his shoes and socks and started digging between toe spices. I sat and watched while he pulled apart his toes and ran his index finger down their 'valleys'. He then rolled them into a ball and dropped them into space. Once the fuzz was removed, he moved in for a closer look and rubbed of all the specs of dirt. When he was finished his toes sparkled! He is very enthusiastic about his toe- spices.

I often wonder what made him think about checking his toes in the middle of the day?? Were they hot? Or did he just wonder what sort of little treasures were riding between his toes. The anticipation was unbearable - he had to take a peek and see if they were full. I relate it to putting on a pair of pants or coat that I have not worn in a while and finding a pocket full of treasures; a wad of money, acorn caps, coins, buttons, used tissues, to do lists or a special stone. As Hannah asks " what sort of surprises are in your pocket"...or between your toes.