The Love of Jigsaw-Puzzles

SOLSC21, Day 26

My daughter’s latest wish arrived two days ago. It is a five-hundred piece jigsaw puzzle. Since we were painting the house over the weekend, I didn’t let her open it earlier. Today, after much waiting, it was opened. I should’ve filmed her excitement as she opened it, feeling all grown-up. The most she’s done before were 110-piece puzzles. “I’m a big girl now,” she said, “I can handle those 500-piece puzzles.” I was skeptical but gave in and ordered it. She’s seen her brothers struggle with 1000-piece Star Wars puzzles. (We’re a jigsaw-puzzle-loving family). But “I’m smarter than they are,” she thinks. So be it.

As she pored over the tiny, similar-looking pieces, I could see her feeling absolutely befuddled. Even though she claims she’s “smarter than the boys,” her vanity notwithstanding, she asked her brother for help. While I tried to get things back in order after the chaos left behind by the house-painting project, I could see both of them mumbling to themselves and to each other about the pieces. I cleaned up, took a shower, and when I came out, the puzzle was lying on the table, unassembled, and they were nowhere in sight. I went to ask how successful they were. “We did three pieces!” They exclaimed. Three? In an hour-and-a-half? Seriously? I rolled my eyes at them. Kids these days, no patience.

After dinner, I thought I’d give it a try. The pieces were so tiny I needed my reading glasses to look at them properly. They all looked almost the same. They were monotones of either pink, or purple, or white. Some were brown. How on earth was I going to do this? I spent half an hour, and couldn’t place a single piece right. I gave up for today. 

But we’re a jigsaw-puzzle-loving family. And I love a good challenge too. I don’t go to bed without finishing one Hard-level Sudoku. And so, the kitten-and-yarn jigsaw puzzle’s 497 pieces are still scattered, waiting to be assembled. The three corner pieces that the kids managed to assemble in an hour-and-a-half will be my inspiration and guide. We’ll get this done. And then, I’ll be grown-up enough for a 1000-piece puzzle!