26

I woke up Friday morning and was officially over a quarter of a century old. I almost didn't believe it. I looked around for evidence of my being so.....adult.

I have a husband.

I have a child.

Next comes....senior discounts?

In outright defiance of 26, my husband took his girls to the Phoenix Children's Museum.

Entering the museum, the first thing you see is this claw-foot tub with swan wings suspended 30 feet overhead. All I could think about for the rest of my birthday was the person responsible for creating the magical flying bathtub. 

And can they be my daughter's preschool teacher?

And then maybe my friend?

Because by the time you get to be my age you've been told so many times, "Inanimate objects cannot fly." It's wrong to color purple polka-dots in the sky. It's impractical to make the duck talk with a British accent. Imaginary friends don't exist.

 In short, grow up.

It makes me wonder how we're going to solve the many large problems facing the world when we put it into a child's mind that not all things are possible.

The museum decor is inspired by children's imaginations. They filled the whole ceiling with fish creatures made out of stuff a child would have on hand.

The Monet of watercolor

Painting a rocket ship with two paintbrushes.

 One of the first things Steven said when Darcy came to our family was, "She's gonna have a killer imagination." I remember thinking it was an unusual prediction at the time. Couldn't we first get her sleeping through the night? 

But every morning when I get to look at my freshly rested little girl and into her large brown eyes, I realize that her imagination is something worth fighting for. She was born creative beyond the limits of our circumstances. That creativity has the potential to do great things. 

                                       

Never underestimate the effect a British accent can have on the world.

.veronica.