The Little Blue Engines

We have a couple of 'Little Blue Engines' in our lives.  There is Thomas and then there's the kind, little blue engine from the storybook 'The Little Engine that Could'.  For some reason this book has stuck with me since my childhood.  I didn't remember too much about it aside from the refrain "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can".  I didn't remember the dolls or the toys or the little toy clown.  I didn't remember the mountain or the other pompous engines that refused to help.  But I did remember the mantra.


I'd like to think that it was more than the words that stuck with me.  That maybe the message became a part of who I am.  I hope this is so because I am hoping that this will also rub off on Alasdair.  He is certainly stubborn, but also easily frustrated.  If his train tracks don't go together the right way the first time, he gets upset.  I think he is slowly starting to take the time to work things out for himself, but it's probably going to take a lot of patience and "I think I can"-ing on the part of his parents.