Cups are a difficult Concept

As adults we take them for granted.  Cups.  Particularly, cups without lids.  But when you take a moment to think about it, imagine a child.  A nursing child never had to worry about spilling all the contents on the floor.  Neither does a child who uses a bottle.  Then we move them to a sippy cup.  Which again, might leak, but certainly, one careless gesture does not sacrifice all of our choice beverage.  Perhaps you then move to a straw, and once again, the contents are safe from our careless adventures. 

So, as a child, cups, are a difficult concept.

Yesterday afternoon was a nice mild Spring afternoon.  And as Ellie played outside, I sat in the sun, enjoying the warmth after our long cold winter.  I finally caught on that (much to my dismay), Ellie was finding sources of rain water, sticking her finger in them, and licking her fingers.  ICKY.  So inside we both went to get a cup with actual water.  Acceptable, healthy, drinking water.

At any rate.  I couldn't find the lid to the cup, and I decided, oh heck, it's warm, we're outside.  Let's just give this a whirl.  So back outside, I gave Ellie the cup.  I explained that it had no lid, and that she had to carry it carefully like a big girl, or the water would come out.  And she listened intently, took the cup in both hands, and ran off across the driveway.  Only, to learn, that, well, liquid moves with motion.  Running, causes motion.  Running causes liquid to be in motion, and well, of course, all the water splashed out all over the place (mainly all over her).  So again, I gave her some more, and she listened intently, and then spent a great deal of time drinking her water because she walked off.  Finally, getting the cup to a very low level, she deemed it "safe" to tuck in the small of her arm, so she could bend over and pick up something off the ground.

Come on, you all see it coming right?  Bending over, tipping the cup on it's side (nearly upside down), causes the liquid (per gravity), to end up on the ground.  I watched in amusement.  It took her several minutes to realize that A) her water was gone, and B) where it had gone to.

She was soaked when we came inside.  But like I said, it was warm.  And she'll have to learn at some point.  And as initially indicated, cups, are a difficult concept.