A Lego Widow

Some women's spouses abandon them for various sports seasons.

Mine is now completely overrun, not by March Madness, but by Legos.

Because, in our house, they're not just for children anymore.

Mama, to put it mildly, is now obsessed with Legos. (I mean, she just emailed me this!) She is planning, in detail--down to the cake construction (Oreos on top of little loaves and then frosted in primary colors!), activities ("I'm going to build a racing ramp!" right after she orders about 5000 Lego bricks for the party guests to play with!!), and favors (bucket o' bricks for each child, from the aforementioned stockpile)--the Legomania birthday party for the kids. In July. And she's been researching the Lego birthday party scene, even calling the stores to see how they used to do it. Did you know there is a make-your-own-Lego-party kit? But she's gotten way beyond that. She's also signed Bud up for Lego camp (Sis was offered it but chose Girl Scouts), ordered them both the children's magazine, considering subscribing to the adult magazine, and reading the parent website. She picked up several sets on sale at the toy store and is now tracking future sales. And future releases, informing me what is coming: Vikings!! Pirates of the Caribbean!! A Lighthouse!! The three of them do Legos every time they are together, not only building sets but creating their own with generic bricks. Mama is rationing the sets to one a month. I think Harry Potter's Diagon Alley is next. Their dream set: the Death Star!

Of course, the kids are right there with her. Together, they've built several big sets, following instructions for 8 year olds. They concentrate, problem solve, create, imagine, and then play with the result. And then they daydream about more . . . . Both Bud and Sis chose Lego sets (the castle and X-Wing respectively) for their reward at Spring Break if their charts are complete, as well as mini-figures for their mini-rewards along the way. And they are doing everything on their chart almost everyday, even trying to earn bonus "stars." Bud even goes to bed with the Lego catalog each night.

Where does that leave me? Watching. Or relaxing somewhere else. Enjoying their joy together. Encouraging their shared hobby. Appreciating the skills involved. Marveling at what Lego has thought of next. I was never interested in Legos as a child, while Mama apparently built garages for her Barbies, and I'm still not great at following a set (I can make up my own little things, though).

Mama asked, perhaps concerned about her new addiction, how she knows what's too much? I said don't spend more on this year's birthday than we spent last year. And if she comes home with a set she normally wouldn't be interested in at all, say a police or construction set, I'll know shes just buying the Legos to smell the plastic. Otherwise, there are worse hobbies--have fun!

So far, so good.

Especially because there is no off-season.