Heather Camlot

For Christmas, Alexandre received a glow-in-the-dark solar system kit. He’s been really into space lately, so I (um, Santa) thought it would be a nice addition to his room.

One morning, Marc and Alexandre strung the planets with fishing wire, according to package directions, then started trying to figure out how to hang them. When Juliana and I showed up, the discussion turned ugly. Marc wanted to hang the planets according to distance from the sun for accuracy. I wanted them to look pretty.

We both got what we wanted – after I took down his properly spaced planets that were hanging across the length of the bedroom and re-hung them properly spaced along the width of the bedroom. They looked better, but not great. I’m sorry, but educational or not, those planets were ruining the look of the room I worked so hard on (and yes, I do realize I’m the one who bought them). Marc assured me it would only be for a few years (!) and then Alexandre likely wouldn’t be interested in them any more. The decorator in me can only hope.

I lay with Alexandre in his bed that night and we stared up at his ceiling, all aglow with properly spaced planets and scattered stars (a birthday present we affixed back in August that didn’t bother me aesthetically). It was a lot like camping – or what I assume camping would be like had I actually ever gone. Alexandre named each planet with a bit of help (I had help from the pamphlet that came in the box), then I told him a bedtime story about astronauts and aliens. I tucked him in and tiptoed out as he continued to admire the solar system above.

The toy planets may not be pretty, but they are pretty cool. And if they help my boy dream big, then I can live with them until his dreams become reality.

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