Turtle Remembered

After much jumping, climbing, eating and pretend swimming Hugo has been turning to this big blue tub. I should pause with my tale and explain here that a daycare meets in the park and visits the pool on and off throughout the day. They keep their pool toys in this tub. Well, Hugo seems to search out the tub when I am thinking he may possibly be tired. He flips it upside down and crawls under it to hide. He'll stay there awhile undisturbed. Then he'll lift an edge and peek out. The kids think he's being funny. One of them will holler out, "Hey, look at the kid under the bucket!" and then all eyes will be on Hugo. I wonder if he is desiring a break from all the splashing and the sun.

Watching Hugo play underneath the big blue tub reminds me of his turtle. He still talks about turtles all the time. He points out the turtles on his bed sheet. We have to count them and talk about their colors. They are fancy multicolored turtles. He has a small toy turtle that he carries here and there in the palm of his hand and sometimes in his shorts pocket. He calls his blow up crocodile pool toy a turtle. We've talked about it being a crocodile, not a turtle. "Look at all the teeth!" I say. I don't think he believes me. He has continued calling the crocodile pool toy - a turtle. Could this big blue tub remind Hugo of his turtle? Could he be playing turtle? Could he be sending me a signal that he wants a turtle? Or is he simply sleepy and desirous of a break from all the kids hollering, splashing, and sunshine?