Small things

If I was going to write a history of 21st century grandparenting in 100 objects - or even 10! - this child car seat buckle would be up near the top. Designed to thwart toddler fingers, it certainly thwarts mine - they are far less supple than they used to be. Add to the mix the fact that any self-respecting toddler feels determined to "do it myself!" and you have a recipe for frustration on all sides.
There is a solution, of course, and it's to allow enough time for Simone to fiddle with it until she's ready for me to suggest that we "do it together". I do the fiddly jigsaw puzzle part, aligning the two halves of the buckle; she helps me to push the aligned halves into the slot. Everyone's happy. Knowing Simone, it won't be long before she'll be able to do it all unaided.