No more cardboard boxes

Well, it's official; our house is changing. We're making the transition from a house with little kids to a house with just big kids. Don't get me wrong, we have a slew of dolls lying around and toy boxes full of Fisher Price toys but some pretty big stuff went down last week. A major moment that caused my mouth to drop and my heart to break just a little.

My two youngest refused to play with the giant cardboard boxes. Ya know, the oversized dishwasher and fridge boxes that you can make forts and rocket ships out of? Maybe even robots and or towers? My girls have always loved getting to play with the big ol' cardboard boxes and so last Monday I brought two huge ones home, set them in the living room and waited for their reaction when they got home from school. But then ... nothing. No one said anything about them. Just waltzed right past them and plopped down on the couch.

I quickly ran out into the living room with a big smile on my face and pointed out to my 8 year old, "Look! I got you some boxes! I thought you and your sister could make all kinds of stuff with them!" She acknowledged me with a polite but simple, "Mmhmm," while she sipped her juice box and then turned her attention back to the tv. There was no excitement. No eyes widening while her imagination goes wild. Just looked at the boxes like they were a piece of furniture with no purpose other than to be in her way.

So I thought I'd just give it some time. Maybe in a few hours or the next day, they would finally show some interest and be the creative kids I know they are. The evening passed ... still nothing. Even after I hinted two or three times about the possibilities that lay waiting for them in the form of a cardboard box. A day passed and still no interest.

What was happening to my house full of little kids? What happened in such a short amount of time that made them think giant cardboard boxes had no use to them? Not the idea of fun anymore? After a few days, I finally decided to get out the markers and tape and scissors myself and laid them on the table next to the boxes. "Hey girls! I got out the markers and stuff, how about you make something super cool with these huge boxes?!" They finally managed to lift their lazy selves out of their comfortable positions and attempt to appease me by playing with the dumb, empty boxes. I think they toodled around for about an hour and drew some stuff on one of them that sort of resembled a computer. The other one became a table for their fake office but the whole event took about 75 minutes and then it was over.

I remember the days where I would beg them to let me throw the boxes away after weeks of playing with them. After they were torn up so bad from being rolled through, sat on, colored on and cut up, entertaining them for hours upon hours. And now ... here they sit, in perfect condition, lying completely still in the living room with no one caring if they're there or not. It was a sad moment and a definite transition in my house.

Guess next time, I'll just recycle them cause apparently we've grown up and have no use for the coolest toy in the world, a giant cardboard box.