Daddy Days: The gravitational pull of a closed door
There are certain objects that seem to have an almost gravitational pull on kids. Fire is a quick example and running water, too. You don’t have to say anything, or rather you have to tell them to stay away if you don’t want them by the fire or water, because they will start moving in the direction of either immediately.
But the item with the strongest gravitational pull is a closed door. We’re talking "Star Trek" tractor beam level of pull here. A closed door attracts kids like a light attracts moths.
It doesn’t even make sense. I’ll say something about doing some work in a room and close the door. The entire rest of the house will be a fine place to play. There will be something in the range of 2,000 square feet of air-conditioned space (plus the garage and backyard) to play in, yet for some reason all six boys will end up in the 4 feet immediately outside my closed door.
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When I come out and get on to them about playing right here, they seem a little bit surprised they’re playing there, too. Gravitational pull, I’m telling you.
It’s the same sort of thing with a closed bathroom door. This seems to be worse for moms of young kids than dads. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a kid plop down outside the bathroom door like they’re a traffic cone as soon as mom or dad goes into the bathroom.
I distinctly recall when we were kids that several of my siblings would stick their hands under the bathroom door and wiggle their fingers saying, “hi Mom!” if Mom ever went into the bathroom. To any of my kids reading this, it was only my siblings who did this and I definitely didn’t participate.
The ultimate closed door with gravitational pull is dad and mom’s door when they’re trying to have a grown-ups-only conversation. This one is next level because the kids will pile up outside the door like they’re doing a sit in.
In our house it’s impossible for grownups to have a conversation without a kid overhearing it if a door isn’t closed, so closed door conferences happen regularly. However, the youngest ones figure nothing could possibly take more than two to three minutes to talk about, so they start knocking. So not only do we have what appears to be a group of protestors outside the door, but they’re also making demands.
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I don’t think I’ll ever understand the hidden power or the undeniable appeal of a closed door to children. If I could only find a way to harness its gravitational force for some good purpose. I wonder if a picture of a closed door above their bed would make them want to stay in it at night? I guess there’s only one way to find out.
Harris and his wife live in Pflugerville with their seven children. Please email comments or suggestions for future columns to thoughtsforcaleb@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Daddy Days: The gravitational pull of a closed door
