"Mom, you should put some of your things away. Baby proof this house," stated our oldest son Mark as he lumbered up the stairs followed by his wife, Kim, and fifteen-month-old Hannah.
Visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday, he finished unloading the luggage. After driving all day, his temper showed. "That one finger rule may work with the twins, but it'll never work with Hannah," he insisted.
When my three granddaughters were born, a close friend shared her secret: "Teach them the 'one finger rule'." All of her five grandchildren learned it young. The method's success surprised me.
I picked up Hannah and said, "Well, Mark, you just watch." I hugged her and walked around the room.
"Hannah, you may touch anything in this room you want. But, you can only use one finger." I demonstrated by touching my forefinger to an African sculpture on the mantle. Hannah followed my example. "Good girl. Now what else would you like to touch?"
She stretched her finger toward another object. I allowed her to touch everything in sight—plants, glass, the TV, lamps. If she started to grab, I gently reminded her. She always obeyed. Hannah, an only child, possessed a more adventurous spirit. Her father predicted this would prevent her from accepting the rule.
During their four-day stay, we helped Hannah remember. She learned quickly. I only put away genuinely dangerous items. We watched her closely, and nothing was damaged. Besides, "things" can be replaced.
A few fingerprints remained on glass after they left. I couldn't bring myself to clean them for days. Each one reminded me of a wonderful moment with Hannah.
Months later, we visited them in Salt Lake. I watched Mark and Kim continue to practice the rule. I refrained from saying, "I told you so," but smiled inwardly each time they prodded Hannah. Mark, a salesman, was preparing gift packets for clients. Hannah helped.
Then she picked up one gift, held it as if it were a fragile bird, and walked to me. At my knee, her beautiful blue eyes looked into mine. She stretched her prize to me and said, "One finger, Nana!"