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Heavy objects

We have a two story entryway and a railing from the 2nd floor which overlooks it.  This is a great temptation for children to drop things over, but we have firm rules about what can be dropped: things which are soft and things which are light.

Yesterday as I was making dinner, Luke started trying dropping things over.  He dropped his bean bag.  He dropped our hula hoop. Then he started looking for bigger things.

He came up to me and showed me the old keyboard we have for playing with.  "No, you may not drop that over the edge."  Then he came and asked if he could drop over my 5 pound dumbbell.  The image of the dumbbell hitting the ground was not pretty, and to Luke's disappointment I said no again.  Then he started to get more desperate. "Can I drop off my woodworking?" he asked.  His preschool had collections of boards, hammers and glue that the kids could make into things and bring home, so woodworking refers to a couple of 2 foot long sections of 2 by 4s with things glued onto them.  When I refused that, he got upset.  "What can I drop over the landing then!!"

I went over the rules with him again, and he got sad.  "But I need something which will make a big BOOM when it lands!"  Fortunately, it was time for dinner.

I do feel good about the fact that he kept asking for permission to drop things over the railing.  Poor Luke never found anything to make a big noise.

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